Bree Iskandar (@breezyscience) header
Bree Iskandar (@breezyscience) profile picture

Bree Iskandar

@breezyscience

Drug discovery scientist @Merck & freelance science writer | PhD @UNCPharmacy @BowersRangers | ‘23 @AAASMassMedia Fellow @statnews | opinions my own!

Joined February 2022
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Photo by Bree Iskandar (@breezyscience)Photo by Bree Iskandar (@breezyscience)
For @sciam, I delve into technological doping—the use of equipment to gain an unfair athletic advantage—and explore the blurry, somewhat arbitrary line separating “clean” and “dirty” sport ahead of the #Olympics 🏃🏻‍♀️🏊‍♂️ scientificamerican.com/artic…
Is Technology in the Olympics a Form of Doping or a Reality of Modern Sport?

Is Technology in the Olympics a Form of Doping or a Reality of Modern Sport?

Technological doping refers to the use of equipment—from swimsuits to super shoes—that provides an unfair athletic advantage. But the boundaries of what is allowed are somewhat arbitrary

scientificamerican.com
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Happy solar eclipse day! After taking a bit of a break, I exercised the ol’ writing muscles again with this piece on how solar eclipses may have boosted the economies of our ancestors 🌕🌗🌑 inverse.com/science/how-sola… Check it out on @inversedotcom!
Did Solar Eclipses Boost the Economies of Our Ancestors? These Researchers Think So

Did Solar Eclipses Boost the Economies of Our Ancestors? These Researchers Think So

Researchers surmise that by stimulating curiosity and scientific thinking, solar eclipses may have also increased the economic prosperity of societies past.

inverse.com
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My first ever narrative feature was published today in @statnews 🥹 Some patients with a dementia called FTD experience an explosion of artistic creativity, and now we have a neurological basis for explaining it: statnews.com/2023/08/10/deme…

How a beautiful symptom of a brutal dementia informs our understanding of creativity

A small percentage of people suffering from frontotemporal dementia or FTD experience an explosion of creativity, often manifesting as obsessively engaging in artistic activities like painting.

statnews.com
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For @statnews, I spoke with journalist @BarryMeier on the upcoming @netflix show Painkiller, which is based on his book about OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, and the origin of the opioid epidemic in the US. statnews.com/2023/07/28/barr…
His book on the opioid crisis flopped in 2003. It now has a new life on Netflix

His book on the opioid crisis flopped in 2003. It now has a new life on Netflix

"Until we understand how it happens, and how to stop it from happening, we're going to be in a situation like the opioid epidemic again."

statnews.com
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The CDC reports rising cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy caused by ticks. I spoke to allergy experts and tick ecologists to find out why 🤔🙅‍♀️🥩 My latest for @statnews: statnews.com/2023/07/27/alph…
Cases of alpha-gal syndrome caused by tick bites on the rise, CDC reports

Cases of alpha-gal syndrome caused by tick bites on the rise, CDC reports

For many Americans, the warmer spring and summer months bring backyard barbecues and scenic hikes — along with a chorus of cicadas, mosquitoes galore, and

statnews.com
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In a new study, doctors at @MGHCancerCenter treated a rare brain tumor with unprecedented success using medicines developed for skin cancer My latest for @statnews: statnews.com/2023/07/13/mela…
Doctors use precision medicine to show melanoma drugs can shrink rare brain tumor by 90%

Doctors use precision medicine to show melanoma drugs can shrink rare brain tumor by 90%

By going down to the molecular level, doctors have uncovered a way to treat tumors caused by a rare brain cancer using medicines that already exist.

statnews.com
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In my latest for @statnews, a custom therapy made for a young girl with a rare genetic disorder hints at the feasibility of individualized medicines. Thanks @timyu @BradMargus @stopbatten @ToshifumiYokota for speaking with me on the topic! statnews.com/2023/07/12/cust…
A young girl’s custom gene therapy hints at a framework for tailored rare disease treatments

A young girl’s custom gene therapy hints at a framework for tailored rare disease treatments

A Boston Children’s Hospital team has developed a second personalized medicine, called atipeksen, for a young child with a rare genetic disorder.

statnews.com
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Woohoo!! So excited to share my new research paper in @J_A_C_S, where we develop a method in mRNA display to find covalent peptide inhibitors! Could not have done it without my PI and the rest of @BowersRangers👌🏼(<- that’s a macrocycle 🙂) pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jac…
Identification of Covalent Cyclic Peptide Inhibitors in mRNA Display

Identification of Covalent Cyclic Peptide Inhibitors in mRNA Display

Abstract. Peptides have historically been underutilized for covalent inhibitor discovery, despite their unique abilities to interact with protein surfaces

pubs.acs.org
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Throughout their lifetimes, young cancer survivors are more likely to struggle with isolation, psychological disorders, and even financial independence. How can we prioritize mental health earlier in cancer treatment? My latest for @statnews: statnews.com/2023/06/28/canc…
When young people survive cancer, their mental-health struggles are often just beginning

When young people survive cancer, their mental-health struggles are often just beginning

"It's not just grief over a shortened life, because a lot of people survive — but grief over how their life would have looked like."

statnews.com
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My first for @statnews! @abdultsanni and I talk to physicians, public health experts, and economists about an impending @pfizer penicillin shortage and its threat to pregnant adults with syphilis and their newborns. #AAASMMF statnews.com/2023/06/22/bici…
A looming penicillin shortage threatens pregnant adults with syphilis and their newborns

A looming penicillin shortage threatens pregnant adults with syphilis and their newborns

Without access to Bicillin, pregnant adults with syphilis and their newborns could face severe consequences.

statnews.com
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Yay!! Can’t wait to get started! ✨
AAAS Mass Media Fellowship (@AAASMassMedia) profile pictureAAAS Mass Media Fellowship@AAASMassMedia16 May 2023
Follow Bree Iskandar (@breezyscience) as she gains valuable #SciComm experience while writing for @statnews this summer! She is working on her PhD in Pharmaceutical Science from @UNC! Learn more about her on our website: fal.cn/3yiLy
Image from AAAS Mass Media Fellowship (@AAASMassMedia)
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So very excited to be a part of this year’s @AAASMassMedia Fellows! Looking forward to sharpening my #scicomm skills and learning ropes of science journalism at @statnews this summer!
AAAS Mass Media Fellowship (@AAASMassMedia) profile pictureAAAS Mass Media Fellowship@AAASMassMedia14 Apr 2023
Stop the presses! We’re so excited to share the 2023 Mass Media Fellows! This summer, these 21 fantastic scientists and writers will be honing their #SciComm skills at news outlets across the country. Learn more about the incoming class here: aaas.org/news/aaas-announces…
The 2023 Class of Mass Media Fellows: 21 smiling faces ready and excited. Blue caption at the bottom: AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship, Class of 2023

ALT The 2023 Class of Mass Media Fellows: 21 smiling faces ready and excited. Blue caption at the bottom: AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship, Class of 2023

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It's here!! My first, first-author research publication is out in @J_A_C_S !!✨🥹✨ Enabling Genetic Code Expansion and Peptide Macrocyclization in mRNA Display via a Promiscuous Orthogonal Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase: pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021…
Image from Bree Iskandar (@breezyscience)
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A more personal story on how I found the world of #SciComm out now on @UNC_SWAC. read it here! thepipettepen.com/how-a-scie…
The Pipettepen SWAC (@UNC_SWAC) profile pictureThe Pipettepen SWAC@UNC_SWAC17 Oct 2022
The journey to science communication looks different for everyone. Check out the story below from @breezyscience on how a PhD candidate found the value of science communication in the world: thepipettepen.com/how-a-scie… #journeytoscicomm #scicomm
Image from The Pipettepen SWAC (@UNC_SWAC)
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It me! Proud to have written this viewpoint on a new clinical candidate for cholesterol management thru @ACSMedChemLett, both as an #mRNAdisplay enthusiast and former @Merck intern on their mRNA display team! pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs…
mRNA Display Reaches for the Clinic with New PCSK9 Inhibitor

mRNA Display Reaches for the Clinic with New PCSK9 Inhibitor

Abstract. Merck & Co. recently reported one of the first mRNA display-derived clinical candidates in a bioavailable inhibitor of proprotein convertase

pubs.acs.org
Dani Schultz (@danithechemist) profile pictureDani Schultz@danithechemist27 Aug 2022
mRNA display makes billions of macrocyclic peptides in one round (🤯) - dramatically impacting drug discovery. @ACSMedChemLett highlights Merck’s PCSK9 inhibitor which is the first clinical candidate from this technology! pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs…
Image from Dani Schultz (@danithechemist)
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This month on @UNC_SWAC, I wrote about some carbon-carbon chemistry through the lens of...love and relationships, of course❣️😁#carboncarboncouples #carbondating #mychemicalromance #carbsoncarbs #bonded4lyfe Read it here! thepipettepen.com/a-carbon-c…
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In light of the overturning of Roe v Wade, I and the other board members of The PipettePen put together an evidence-based statement on the ✨many benefits✨ abortion access has for mental and physical health, economic stability, and overall well-being: thepipettepen.com/swac-board…
The Pipettepen SWAC (@UNC_SWAC) profile pictureThe Pipettepen SWAC@UNC_SWAC8 Jul 2022
The PipettePen board agrees that access to abortion is an important healthcare policy that saves lives and improves health and well-being. Read the statement for evidence-based answers to common questions on the topic: thepipettepen.com/swac-board…
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Last week on @chembiters I wrote about engineered microbes that convert greenhouse gases into lucrative chemicals 🦠➡️🧪Read the article here! chembites.org/2022/06/28/the… #climatechange #greenchemistry #carboncapture #biotech #scicomm
Image from Bree Iskandar (@breezyscience)
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Humans have an impressive ability to detect rotten egg and skunk smells. Ever wonder what exactly we're smelling? I unmask these odorous offenders in a post for @ncdnaday's blog for high schoolers: ncdnadayblog.org/2022/04/08/… #chemistry #scicomm #NCDNADayBlog
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Architectural design plays a big role in human health, especially in hospitals--I recently read @EmilyAnthes' book, The Great Indoors, and recapped her chapter on the influence of hospital design on patient recovery thru @UNC_SWAC: thepipettepen.com/architectu…
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