David Brenner
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Articles by David Brenner
Opinion: Academia must mend its ‘imperfect meritocracy’
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Academia — and by extension, nonprofit biomedical research — is fundamentally a meritocracy. It values output, excellence, credentials, peer review and empirical evidence. Success is defined by hard work empowered by particular skills and training that produces measurable results, not affluence, family background or social class.
A Guide To Watching The World Cup For Those Too Lazy To Do Anything Else Original
As World Cup soccer inundates the airwaves, it occurs to me that many Americans have little knowledge of it, frustrating their enjoyment of the beloved sport. Soccer-watching experts like myself can fix that sad state of affairs. Allow me to share a few pointers, so that even Americans can learn to relish soccer games.
The Doors - Film (1991)
LA TRAMA DI THE DOORS Sconvolto per aver assistito da bambino - casualmente - alla morte di un vecchio pellerossa, a causa di un incidente stradale, Jim Morrison ne rimane segnato per tutta la vita, al punto di convincersi di essere la reincarnazione di uno sciamano.
Sorry, Virginia, space aliens have not visited Earth
OPINION: If you are a believer in visitors from outer space, this is your moment. The feds have declassified UFO files, there is a new documentary on alleged UFO sightings, and, of course, the new Steven Spielberg film, “Disclosure Day,” is doing boffo box office. I am sorry to burst your space-helmet bubble, but it is all bunk. UFO fascination is driven by our natural curiosity, and Hollywood’s monetization of it only spurs it further.
Sorry, Virginia, space aliens have not visited Earth
9 hours ago Vanity Fair reports from the Disclosure Forum on Capitol Hill, where members of a sprawling community of national security experts and alien conspiracists gathered to celebrate how far they’ve come. Anna Paulina Luna, the Republican congresswoman from Florida, walked into the Kennedy Caucus Room on …
Estimating temporal treatment-effect patterns of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in lower-grade gliomas using causal machine learning
Abstract Treatment decisions for lower-grade gliomas (WHO grades 2–3) rest on trial averages, which lack temporal resolution.
New Memoir ‘Journey Through the Valley’ Invites Readers to Redefine Success, Faith, and What it Means to Truly Live
NEWS PROVIDED BY Author David Brenner April 7, 2026 CHARLESTON, S.C., April 7, 2026 /Christian Newswire/ — In an era where success is celebrated regardless of the cost, “Journey Through the Valley” offers a rare and timely challenge: slow down, look inward, and consider who you are becoming—not just what you’re accomplishing. In this book Brenner draws from his own experiences to pull back the curtain on a life that, from the outside, appeared successful by every modern standard.
Officially unofficial: the black market in Ne Win’s Burma
During the 1970s, anyone standing at the top of Sule Pagoda Road in Rangoon (now Yangon) on a weekday morning could witness a curious phenomenon. After the “Down” train from the southern city of Moulmein (now Mawlamyine) had pulled into nearby Central Railway Station, dozens of women and a smaller number of men would alight, laden down with a wide assortment of bundles and boxes.
Opinion: 7 tips to stick to your New Year’s resolutions
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Did you make New Year’s resolutions? If you did, they likely involved improving your health, by far the most common aspiration. Americans tend to be unhealthy. Unfortunately, surveys show more than 80% of resolutions are abandoned by February. There are many reasons: vague or unrealistic goals. All-or-nothing mentality. Poor planning. Focusing on the end result, not the habits and means to get there.
Opinion: Rolling back hepatitis B protections risks disaster
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Back in 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report identifying 10 great public health achievements and their benefits in the first decade of the 21st century. Topping the list: vaccine-preventable diseases. From 2001 to 2010, new vaccines emerged to treat everything from herpes to diphtheria to human papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of multiple types of cancer.
Opinion: U.S. biomedical research relies on philanthropy, large and small
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The National Institutes of Health remains the largest funder of biomedical research in the country at roughly $48 billion. But it is imperiled. The Trump administration has proposed reducing its budget by 40% to $27.9 billion for fiscal year 2026. Congressional committees have pushed back, proposing funding at current levels (albeit with different allocations and emphases).
Opinion: Not all ultra-processed foods are unhealthy
Sixteen years ago, food scientists in Brazil created a new system called Nova, which grouped foods into four ascending health categories based on processing. At the time, the scientists noted that the rising rate of obesity seemed correlated to the growing consumption of highly processed foods.
Rent Control 2003 720p WEBRip-YTS
Burdensome: The Night Of S01 720p BluRay x264-GalaxyTV [2.27GB]The.Night.Of.S01E01.720p.BluRay.x264-GalaxyTV.mkv... Clnque_Persson: https://rmz.cr/static/discussion/rapidshare/6 Clnque_Persson: Maybe that's why my church and mommy and daddy rejected me? Clnque_Persson: Maybe that's why mommy and daddy rejected me? JoeDirt: this movie should be titled journey to Stone worshiping mentalityx: Radek danke! waanaabe: Are these ALL the "Off The Air" episodes? could it be put on CU (480)?
ALS/FTD-linked TBK1 deficiency in microglia induces an aged-like microglial signature and drives social recognition deficits in mice - Nature Communications
Abstract TANK-Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) is involved in autophagy and immune signaling. Dominant loss-of-function mutations in TBK1 have been linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), and ALS/FTD. However, pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear, particularly the cell-type specific disease contributions of TBK1 mutations. Here, we show that deleting Tbk1 from mouse motor neurons does not induce transcriptional stress, despite lifelong signs of autophagy deregulations.
Opinion: Chronic donor organ shortage drives search for new solutions
Last year, there were 48,149 organ transplant procedures in the United States, or roughly 132 kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs and other organs transplanted every day — a new record. Each day, 13 people died on the nation’s transplant list, waiting. It is a list now 103,000 names long.
A FAIR Way Forward for Federal Research Funding
It is the government’s investment in research that leads to cures, transformative technologies and new industries that save lives. In recent months, however, federally sponsored research at universities, medical schools and non-profit research institutes like Sanford Burnham Prebys has been upended by a series of executive orders and directives from the Trump administration and federal agencies.
Eye on rare earths, Trump handing Myanmar to China
The US Treasury Department’s decision to lift sanctions on allies of Myanmar’s military junta last Friday (July 25) marks a stark reversal of decades-long American foreign policy. These sanctions, imposed by the Biden administration on the anniversary of the 2021 coup, were a gesture of solidarity with Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement and a country that has endured relentless bombing and repression at the hands of a brutal military regime.
Opinion: How long are we going to live? The question should be: How well?
It’s not hard to estimate life expectancy. Online calculators abound, from very simple to more complex, from the ominous (Death Clock) to the optimistic (Living to 100). The information they require for predictions range from minimal, such as gender and age (Social Security), to fairly detailed. The Living to 100 calculator, for example, asks dozens of questions about diet, sleep habits, stress factors and incorporates data from the on-going The New England Centenarian Study at Boston University.
Science Marches On Because It Must Never Go Backward
“At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” –Denzel Washington With the challenges facing the research enterprise, it can be easy to lose sight of what we work to achieve every day.
One Flu Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
It’s safe to say that researchers and research institutions in the United States were not prepared for the breadth and depth of the Trump administration’s assault on science, from radical cuts in funding support to eliminating diversity and opportunity to driving scientists, young and older, to change careers. Now, it seems, the rest of us may be less prepared for the next pandemic, or the next flu season.
Opinion: Health database could provide key insights to improve care
In every body and in everybody, there is an enormous, diverse and changing array of medical and health information, from longitudinal data like our weight and blood pressure over the years to the biological samples, such as blood and tissues, that your doctor or a medical professional may ask you to provide.
Rebel Politics after the Coup: Ethnic Armed Organisations and Myanmar’s Spring Revolution
Abstract Ethnic armed organisations or EAOs play a pivotal role in the revolutionary war against Myanmar’s junta. These ethno-national rebel movements have not only captured large swathes of territory, but they have also been crucial in transforming resistance into revolutionary warfare in the first place. The early support of some EAOs for the Spring Revolution was instrumental in this transformation.
Ethnic solidarities in Myanmar: coalitions or movement?
This post is an adapted version of an article that appears in a special edition of the Journal of Contemporary Asia on “Revolution and Solidarity in Myanmar” (Vol 54 No 5). Before the 2021 military coup, solidarity between the Bamar majority and other ethnic groups in Myanmar was scarce. Successive governments and military regimes failed to address ethnic demands for an inclusive nation leading to over 70 years of conflict.
Opinión: Sobre los medicamentos para la pérdida de peso, esto es lo que debes saber antes de probarlos
Con las fiestas ya pasadas y el nuevo año aquí, miramos hacia el futuro: hacia la pérdida de peso. Para algunos, esa resolución teóricamente implica dietas o membresías en gimnasios, pero para un número creciente de adultos con sobrepeso (aproximadamente tres cuartas partes de nosotros) hay otra opción: los medicamentos GLP-1 con nombres como Ozempic, Wegovy y Rybelsus, que logran una pérdida de peso promedio de entre 15% y 25% tras 1-1.5 años de uso.
Opinion: On weight loss drugs, here’s what you need to know before trying them
With the holidays past and the new year arrived, we look ahead — to losing weight. For some that resolve theoretically involves dieting or gym memberships, but for increasing numbers of overweight adults (roughly three-fourths of us) there is another option: GLP-1 drugs with names like Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, with a mean weight loss of 15% to 25% at 1-1.5 years of use. But weight, there’s more to the story.
Opinion: Vaccines are still saving scores of lives in U.S., across world
For many of us, hopefully most of us, this is a time of vaccination. There’s the annual flu shot, of course, but also the latest COVID-19 booster and vaccines for pneumonia and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), not to mention shingles, hepatitis B and other boosters. For individuals with underlying health conditions, some vaccines may pose particular risks, something to be discussed with their doctor.
Opinion: Is there gender discrimination in science and medicine? Ask the females.
If you visit a doctor’s office or venture into a lab these days, you won’t be surprised to see a female scientist or physician. We’re long past the hoary days when science and medicine were exclusively the province of men. But that history doesn’t capture her story. Women in science and medicine still confront an appalling array of gender-related disparities, biases, harassment and inequities.
Buddhist division and polarisation in Myanmar’s revolutionary situation
This post is an abridged version of an article that appears in a special edition of the Journal of Contemporary Asia on “Revolution and Solidarity in Myanmar” (Vol 54 No 5). Not surprisingly, revolutionary visions pose serious threats to institutionalised religion, such as the Sangha—the monastic order—in Myanmar. From a Buddhist–normative point of view, the question inevitably arises as to what extent a revolution constitutes a threat to the sasana (Buddhism).
Ethnonationalism and Myanmar’s future Original
Observers in the West have largely interpreted the devastating violence that has engulfed Myanmar following the February 2021 military coup as a “battle between democracy and authoritarianism”. This understanding has become commonplace amongst journalists, researchers, and policymakers describing the conflict. The struggle for democracy has indeed long served as the main analytical lens through which Myanmar’s troubled politics are interpreted in Washington, London, Brussels and Canberra.
Opinion: Artificial intelligence already improving biomedical research, health care
Out of every 10,000 to 15,000 new chemical compounds identified during drug discovery, just five will make it into human clinical trials. More than of these drugs will fail in trials, usually because they were not sufficiently safe or effective. On average, 50 novel medicines make it to market each year, each requiring a decade or longer of effort. The development of a single drug delivered to patients can account for one-third of a scientist’s career, if they’re fortunate to find such success.
Opinion: Artificial intelligence already improving biomedical research, health care
Out of every 10,000 to 15,000 new chemical compounds identified during drug discovery, just five will make it into human clinical trials. More than …
Opinion: Primary care doctors are disappearing. Many are overworked and underpaid.
James Kildare. Marcus Welby. Michaela Quinn. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. These are the names of some of TV’s more famous general medical practitioners. They’re all fictional. So too increasingly are their real-life counterparts. Once the dominant model in medicine, the general practitioner or primary care physician, the person who could discuss, diagnose and treat most of what ails us (or at least get the process started), is disappearing.
Opinion: There’s a secret to living long and healthy. Just follow this.
Brenner is a physician-scientist and president and chief executive officer of Sanford Burnham Prebys and lives in La Jolla. The idea that aging can be prevented, stopped or reversed is a timeless grift. Aging is not a disease, at least in its most universal definition. There are no potions, pills, remedies or behaviors that will “cure” it. We grow old because all vertebrate animal species have a natural lifespan defined by their gene sets and, more broadly, the inexorable .
Guest Commentary: Mistakes and misconduct in science are not synonymous; there are remedies for both
From climate change to vaccines, science seems under attack everywhere on every topic, though often for reasons having little to do with actual research and evidence. Science should always be questioned. That’s part of the process. But when people fundamentally and without consideration do not trust scientists, when they believe there are ulterior motives, we’re in trouble. Feeding those suspicions are headlines reporting scientific fraud and misconduct.
Opinion: Mistakes and misconduct in science are not synonymous; there are remedies for both
Brenner is a physician-scientist and president and chief executive officer of Sanford Burnham Prebys and lives in La Jolla. From climate change to vaccines, science seems under attack everywhere on every topic, though often for reasons having little to do with actual research and evidence. Science should always be questioned. That’s part of the process. But when people fundamentally and without consideration do not trust scientists, when they believe there are ulterior motives, we’re in trouble.
Guest Commentary: Rare diseases affect 30 million Americans. We must answer the challenges to finding cures
By official definition, a rare disease is a condition that afflicts less than 200,000 people in the United States, or roughly the combined populations of El Cajon and Vista. Scientists have documented more than 10,000 rare diseases, with unfamiliar names ranging from abetalipoproteinemia to Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Some diseases account for fewer than a dozen known cases worldwide. But taken altogether, rare diseases affect about 30 million people in the United States alone — or about one in 10.
Effects of tofersen treatment in patients with SOD1-ALS in a “real-world” setting - a 12-month multicenter cohort study from the German early access program - eClinicalMedicine
Keywords Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis SOD1 Antisense oligonucleotide Tofersen Early access program Evidence before this study We searched PubMed for all publications on treatment with the antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) tofersen in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) carrying pathogenic variants of the SOD1 gene published up to September 10th, 2023, using the terms “tofersen” in combination with each of the following terms: “amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” or “ALS”, “SOD1 gene...
Opinion: Rare diseases affect 30 million Americans. These are the challenges to find their cure.
Brenner is a physician-scientist and president and chief executive officer of Sanford Burnham Prebys and lives in La Jolla. By official definition, a rare disease is a condition afflicting less than 200,000 people in the United States, or roughly the combined populations of El Cajon and Vista. Scientists have documented more than 10,000 rare diseases, with unfamiliar names ranging from abetalipoproteinemia to Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Guest Commentary: Science is advancing past the need for drug testing on animals. Let's embrace alternatives
In 1937, there was great demand for a new way to treat streptococcal infections, which range from mild tonsillitis to scarlet fever to toxic shock syndrome. A drug called sulfanilamide, when taken in tablet and powder form, had proved effective. Now a pharmaceutical company wanted to market a liquid form, which it tested for flavor, appearance and fragrance. But not for toxicity. Back then, there were no laws requiring safety studies.
Opinion: Science is advancing past the need for drug testing on animals. Let's embrace alternatives.
Brenner is a physician-scientist and president and chief executive officer of Sanford Burnham Prebys and lives in La Jolla. In 1937, there was great demand for a new way to treat streptococcal infections, which range from mild tonsillitis to scarlet fever to toxic shock syndrome. A drug called sulfanilamide, when taken in tablet and powder form, had proven effective. Now a pharmaceutical company wanted to market a liquid form, which it tested for flavor, appearance and fragrance.
Guest Commentary: Matthew Perry was open about addiction. Like him, we can't stop trying to overcome it
“If an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says ‘Will you help me?’ I will always say ‘Yes, I know how to do that. I will do that for you, even if I can’t always do it for myself!” — Matthew Perry (1969-2023) As I write this, the official cause of Matthew Perry’s death remains unknown. It may be directly or indirectly linked to drugs and alcohol. Certainly his life was.
The public‐health significance of far‐UVC‐induced indoor ozone and its associated secondary chemistry
INTRODUCTION There has been much recent interest in the use of whole-room far-UVC (currently from 222 nm excimer lamps) to markedly and safely reduce the overall level of airborne pathogens in occupied indoor locations. From the twin perspectives of both of efficacy and safety, early studies have been very encouraging.
Opinion: Mathew Perry was open about addiction. Like him, we can't stop trying to overcome it. Original
Brenner is a physician-scientist and president and chief executive officer of Sanford Burnham Prebys and lives in La Jolla. “If an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me?’ I will always say, ‘Yes, I know how to do that. I will do that for you, even if I can’t always do it for myself!” — Matthew Perry (1969-2023) As I write this, the official cause of Matthew Perry’s death remains unknown. It may be directly or indirectly linked to drugs and alcohol.
State Bar of Texas
TBJ JULY/AUGUST 2023 A look at the Process and 10 Quick Tips for Success. Written by David Brenner As courtroom practitioners, we spend hours contemplating our trial strategy. From the minute our case first lands on our desk, we begin to formulate our theme. Through discovery, we obtain, organize, and identify our evidence. All in preparation for the dramatic unfolding of our case at trial.
Metabolic alterations precede neurofilament changes in presymptomatic ALS gene carriers
Summary Background The emergence of potentially effective new therapies for genetic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) necessitates the identification of biomarkers to facilitate early treatment, prior to the onset of motor symptoms. Here, we sought to investigate whether metabolic alterations are detectable in presymptomatic ALS gene mutation carriers, and whether such alterations precede neurofilament light chain (NfL) changes in serum.
Biden's costly miscalculation makes Ukraine a lost cause
A Wall Street Journal editorial this week highlighted the absurdity of America's strategy in Ukraine. The Journal urges the U.S. to provide more advanced weapons to Ukraine, including a longer-range missile system, which Biden is reluctant to do. Ukraine, with America's help, must win, argues the Journal, in part to thwart a developing Russia-China-Iran axis of power.
Avatar 2: La Via dell'Acqua
CURIOSITÀ SU AVATAR 2: LA VIA DELL'ACQUA Il film è il sequel del kolossal Avatar del 2009. James Cameron ha concepito la saga in cinque capitoli, al film seguiranno infatti Avatar 3, Avatar 4 e Avatar 5. Tra il primo e il secondo film intercorrono ben tredici anni. Le riprese sono iniziate il 25 settembre 2017 e sono terminate a fine novembre 2019.
Multiplex short tandem repeat profiling of immortalized hepatic stellate cell line Col-GFP HSC
Loading metrics Open Access Peer-reviewed Research Article Abstract Misidentification, cross-contamination and genetic drift of continuous animal cell lines are persistent problems in biomedical research, leading to erroneous results and inconsistent or invalidated studies. The establishment of immortalized hepatic stellate cell line Col-GFP HSC was reported in PLoS One in the year 2013.
Far UV-C radiation: An emerging tool for pandemic control
?Mathematical formulae have been encoded as MathML and are displayed in this HTML version using MathJax in order to improve their display. Uncheck the box to turn MathJax off. This feature requires Javascript. Click on a formula to zoom. Abstract Far UV-C, informally defined as electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 230 nm, has characteristics that are well-suited to control of airborne pathogens.
Opinion: What UC San Diego has learned battling the pandemic
Khosla is chancellor of University of California San Diego and lives in La Jolla. Brenner is vice chancellor for UC San Diego Health Sciences and lives in La Jolla. Maysent is CEO of UC San Diego Health and lives in Solana Beach. These are tempestuous times, plagued by pandemic-related crises, challenges and uncertainties, all of which make Antonio’s words in Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest,” particularly resonant: “What’s past is prologue.” Right now, this New Year looks a lot like the old one.
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