anil oza
@aniloza.bsky.social
science journalist @stat covering health equity, the nih, and interaction btwn science & society | also: npr, nature, sciam, science, science news (he/him) (signal: aniloza.16)
Pinned
anil oza
@aniloza.bsky.social
· Mar 21
I got to interview Bill Nye yesterday for @statnews.com's Breakthrough Summit!!
What started as a conversation about Ataxia, a genetic disorder that runs in Bill's family, quickly became about the state of American science under the latest administration
What started as a conversation about Ataxia, a genetic disorder that runs in Bill's family, quickly became about the state of American science under the latest administration
Pre-long weekend story:
Multiyear funding for NIH grants has become a sticking point in negotiating HHS’s appropriations package for 2026
www.statnews.com/2026/01/16/n...
Multiyear funding for NIH grants has become a sticking point in negotiating HHS’s appropriations package for 2026
www.statnews.com/2026/01/16/n...
Limit on multiyear funding of NIH grants is a sticking point in Senate budget talks
A clause limiting the use of multiyear NIH grant funding has become a sticking point as the Senate appropriations panel finalizes the HHS spending bill
www.statnews.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Pre-long weekend story:
Multiyear funding for NIH grants has become a sticking point in negotiating HHS’s appropriations package for 2026
www.statnews.com/2026/01/16/n...
Multiyear funding for NIH grants has become a sticking point in negotiating HHS’s appropriations package for 2026
www.statnews.com/2026/01/16/n...
Piece by Jay Bhattacharya, Jeffrey Taubenberger, & John H. Powers on a new vision for NIAID
Wants to refocus on "The most impactful infectious diseases that Americans currently face" & "immunology and allergic and autoimmune diseases to improve patient outcomes"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Wants to refocus on "The most impactful infectious diseases that Americans currently face" & "immunology and allergic and autoimmune diseases to improve patient outcomes"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The new vision from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - Nature Medicine
Preparing for tomorrow’s threats by enhancing our ability to help patients today.
www.nature.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Piece by Jay Bhattacharya, Jeffrey Taubenberger, & John H. Powers on a new vision for NIAID
Wants to refocus on "The most impactful infectious diseases that Americans currently face" & "immunology and allergic and autoimmune diseases to improve patient outcomes"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Wants to refocus on "The most impactful infectious diseases that Americans currently face" & "immunology and allergic and autoimmune diseases to improve patient outcomes"
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by anil oza
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:28 PM
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by anil oza
New Pew Study on Trust in Science. Short answer: about the same as its been, with a bit of extra concern among Democrats about scientific leadership, clearly based on recent events.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
Democrats say America’s role as a scientific leader is slipping, while Republicans remain unworried
Among Americans, trust in science increased slightly between 2024 and 2025, according to a new Pew Research poll.
www.statnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:12 PM
New Pew Study on Trust in Science. Short answer: about the same as its been, with a bit of extra concern among Democrats about scientific leadership, clearly based on recent events.
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
Pew's first survey on trust in science under Trump's second term was published today
Democrats are worried about the US's role as a scientific leader. Republicans—not so much
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
Democrats are worried about the US's role as a scientific leader. Republicans—not so much
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
Democrats say America’s role as a scientific leader is slipping, while Republicans remain unworried
Among Americans, trust in science increased slightly between 2024 and 2025, according to a new Pew Research poll.
www.statnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Pew's first survey on trust in science under Trump's second term was published today
Democrats are worried about the US's role as a scientific leader. Republicans—not so much
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
Democrats are worried about the US's role as a scientific leader. Republicans—not so much
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
Reposted by anil oza
In @statnews.com , @aniloza.bsky.social covered today's new Pew survey on attitudes toward science. I said: "Every university researcher in particular relies on the public to do our work, and we all have to contribute to building the public's trust."
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
January 15, 2026 at 3:49 PM
In @statnews.com , @aniloza.bsky.social covered today's new Pew survey on attitudes toward science. I said: "Every university researcher in particular relies on the public to do our work, and we all have to contribute to building the public's trust."
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
Reposted by anil oza
Democrats say America’s role as a scientific leader is slipping, while Republicans remain unworried. Via @aniloza.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
Democrats say America’s role as a scientific leader is slipping, while Republicans remain unworried
Among Americans, trust in science increased slightly between 2024 and 2025, according to a new Pew Research poll.
www.statnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Democrats say America’s role as a scientific leader is slipping, while Republicans remain unworried. Via @aniloza.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/15/a...
We wrote about a study on pulse ox bias that yielded some confusing results earlier this week
A new, similar, study published yesterday in the UK lines up more neatly with previous results h/t @iwashyna.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
A new, similar, study published yesterday in the UK lines up more neatly with previous results h/t @iwashyna.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
January 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM
We wrote about a study on pulse ox bias that yielded some confusing results earlier this week
A new, similar, study published yesterday in the UK lines up more neatly with previous results h/t @iwashyna.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
A new, similar, study published yesterday in the UK lines up more neatly with previous results h/t @iwashyna.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
Nicole Kleinstreuer has been named deputy director at NIH (shes been acting in that capacity for some months)
@saratalpos.bsky.social talked w/ her abt alternatives to animal models in Oct for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/10/03/a...
@saratalpos.bsky.social talked w/ her abt alternatives to animal models in Oct for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/10/03/a...
She’s leading NIH’s push to reduce the use of animals in biomedical research
Nicole Kleinstreuer, who is leading an NIH effort to reduce the use of animals in research, began thinking about the issue as a toxicologist at the EPA
www.statnews.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Nicole Kleinstreuer has been named deputy director at NIH (shes been acting in that capacity for some months)
@saratalpos.bsky.social talked w/ her abt alternatives to animal models in Oct for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/10/03/a...
@saratalpos.bsky.social talked w/ her abt alternatives to animal models in Oct for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/10/03/a...
A long awaited study on pulse oximeter bias didn't yield the answers researchers hoped
“We got a very clear signal that we do not adequately understand pulse oximeter performances in sick patients" - @iwashyna.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/p...
“We got a very clear signal that we do not adequately understand pulse oximeter performances in sick patients" - @iwashyna.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/p...
FDA-funded study of pulse oximeter accuracy yields surprising and confusing results
A long-awaited study commissioned by the FDA has muddied the path forward on how to reduce racial bias in pulse oximeter readings
www.statnews.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:05 PM
A long awaited study on pulse oximeter bias didn't yield the answers researchers hoped
“We got a very clear signal that we do not adequately understand pulse oximeter performances in sick patients" - @iwashyna.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/p...
“We got a very clear signal that we do not adequately understand pulse oximeter performances in sick patients" - @iwashyna.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/p...
Reposted by anil oza
“There were a lot of questions still unanswered, and we’re hoping to follow up with some additional studies,” Lipnick said, adding that there were no funding opportunities from the FDA for additional studies. ”The door was not open to try and continue,”
www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/p...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/p...
FDA-funded study of pulse oximeter accuracy yields surprising and confusing results
A long-awaited study commissioned by the FDA has muddied the path forward on how to reduce racial bias in pulse oximeter readings
www.statnews.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:28 PM
“There were a lot of questions still unanswered, and we’re hoping to follow up with some additional studies,” Lipnick said, adding that there were no funding opportunities from the FDA for additional studies. ”The door was not open to try and continue,”
www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/p...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/p...
Reposted by anil oza
Rick Pazdur, very briefly and until recently the FDA's top drug regulator, rang the alarm about political influence at the agency at a @statnews.com event.
At the end, he quipped: "I hope the IRS doesn’t come and audit me now.”
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/r...
At the end, he quipped: "I hope the IRS doesn’t come and audit me now.”
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/r...
Pazdur warns that politics, ‘chaos’ are damaging FDA
At a STAT event, veteran drug regulator Richard Pazdur, who left the FDA last month after 26 years, said that politics and 'chaos' were damaging the agency.
www.statnews.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Rick Pazdur, very briefly and until recently the FDA's top drug regulator, rang the alarm about political influence at the agency at a @statnews.com event.
At the end, he quipped: "I hope the IRS doesn’t come and audit me now.”
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/r...
At the end, he quipped: "I hope the IRS doesn’t come and audit me now.”
www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/r...
Reposted by anil oza
Kennedy et al promised to "end the war on saturated fats" — but the new dietary guidelines have “bizarre and contradictory" messages on the subject, say nutrition experts:
www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/s...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/s...
How saturated fats lost, and won, on new food pyramid
New dietary guidelines limit saturated fats to 10% of total calories, but also encourage full-fat dairy, red meat, and beef tallow. How will that work?
www.statnews.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Kennedy et al promised to "end the war on saturated fats" — but the new dietary guidelines have “bizarre and contradictory" messages on the subject, say nutrition experts:
www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/s...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/s...
Reposted by anil oza
Fiscal Year 2026 NIH Funding Update
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
January 8, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Fiscal Year 2026 NIH Funding Update
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
Reposted by anil oza
Nearly half of Trump-appointed experts involved in shaping the new dietary guidelines have financial ties to meat and dairy industries.
Exclusive with @sarah-todd.bsky.social and @elizabethcooney.bsky.social -->
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
Exclusive with @sarah-todd.bsky.social and @elizabethcooney.bsky.social -->
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
Panel behind new dietary guidelines had financial ties to beef, dairy industries
The industry connections of an advisory panel for the new dietary guidelines are notable, especially in light Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of corporate influence.
www.statnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Nearly half of Trump-appointed experts involved in shaping the new dietary guidelines have financial ties to meat and dairy industries.
Exclusive with @sarah-todd.bsky.social and @elizabethcooney.bsky.social -->
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
Exclusive with @sarah-todd.bsky.social and @elizabethcooney.bsky.social -->
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/n...
Reposted by anil oza
STAT’s @helenbranswell.bsky.social on the ‘startling’ new U.S. vaccine schedule
‘It’s jaw-dropping for people who work in this field.’
Read more: www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/k...
‘It’s jaw-dropping for people who work in this field.’
Read more: www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/k...
January 7, 2026 at 8:35 PM
STAT’s @helenbranswell.bsky.social on the ‘startling’ new U.S. vaccine schedule
‘It’s jaw-dropping for people who work in this field.’
Read more: www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/k...
‘It’s jaw-dropping for people who work in this field.’
Read more: www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/k...
Reposted by anil oza
We've got a new food pyramid, emphasis on limiting ultra-processed foods and eating more protein, and a lot more. Story with @isabellacueto.bsky.social & @elizabethcooney.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/d...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/d...
Dietary guidelines declare war on processed foods and sugar, encourage more protein and dairy
The MAHA movement claims wins — fewer processed foods and seed oils, more beef and dairy products — as Kennedy discards 421 pages of scientific recommendations.
www.statnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:54 PM
We've got a new food pyramid, emphasis on limiting ultra-processed foods and eating more protein, and a lot more. Story with @isabellacueto.bsky.social & @elizabethcooney.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/d...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/07/d...
A federal appeals court maintains the block on the NIH's proposed cap on indirect costs ... but it ~could~ still be brought up to the Supreme Court @jonathanwosen.bsky.social writes
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/f...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/f...
Federal appeals court upholds ruling blocking NIH cap on research overhead payments
Federal appeals court judges upheld a lower court’s ruling preventing the NIH from cutting billions of dollars in support for research overhead.
www.statnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:42 PM
A federal appeals court maintains the block on the NIH's proposed cap on indirect costs ... but it ~could~ still be brought up to the Supreme Court @jonathanwosen.bsky.social writes
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/f...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/f...
Reposted by anil oza
Breaking: Federal health officials slash recommended childhood vaccinations under Trump’s directive
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
Federal health officials slash recommended childhood vaccinations under Trump’s directive
The number of recommended childhood shots drops from 17 to 11.
www.statnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Breaking: Federal health officials slash recommended childhood vaccinations under Trump’s directive
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
Reposted by anil oza
Elon Musk's soaring but confusing rhetoric re: Neuralink could hinder a surging brain-computer interface field still figuring out how to get devices approved by regulators and into the hands of ppl w/ disabilities who need them (folks with ALS, paralysis, etc.).
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/n...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/n...
What does Neuralink want — to help people with paralysis, or prepare for a war with AI?
Neuralink, a leader in the fledgling field of brain implants, is hurting the industry's efforts to develop useful medical devices, rivals say.
www.statnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Elon Musk's soaring but confusing rhetoric re: Neuralink could hinder a surging brain-computer interface field still figuring out how to get devices approved by regulators and into the hands of ppl w/ disabilities who need them (folks with ALS, paralysis, etc.).
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/n...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/n...
Reposted by anil oza
For anyone trying to keep up with the grant termination/delay litigation against NIH, the ACLU has a good page with summaries and links.
www.aclu.org/cases/apha-v...
www.aclu.org/cases/apha-v...
APHA v. NIH | American Civil Liberties Union
APHA v. NIH is a legal challenge to the unprecedented and ideologically-driven purge of hundreds of biomedical research projects by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Years of research on a wide...
www.aclu.org
January 2, 2026 at 3:02 PM
For anyone trying to keep up with the grant termination/delay litigation against NIH, the ACLU has a good page with summaries and links.
www.aclu.org/cases/apha-v...
www.aclu.org/cases/apha-v...
Welp ... some breaking news on New Year's Eve:
On a podcast, NIH Director Bhattacharya says the agency will likely not renew grants that were reinstated as part of a court decision earlier this year
www.statnews.com/2025/12/31/n...
On a podcast, NIH Director Bhattacharya says the agency will likely not renew grants that were reinstated as part of a court decision earlier this year
www.statnews.com/2025/12/31/n...
NIH director says DEI-related grants that were restored under a court order won’t be renewed
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya told a podcaster that DEI-related grants restored under a court order won't be renewed in 2026
www.statnews.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Welp ... some breaking news on New Year's Eve:
On a podcast, NIH Director Bhattacharya says the agency will likely not renew grants that were reinstated as part of a court decision earlier this year
www.statnews.com/2025/12/31/n...
On a podcast, NIH Director Bhattacharya says the agency will likely not renew grants that were reinstated as part of a court decision earlier this year
www.statnews.com/2025/12/31/n...
I don’t have the energy to do a year-end thread right now, but this series is our attempt at analyzing the impacts of this year on biomedical research … and what could come next
The series tackles everything from diversity grants, a brain drain, lack of comms, and plenty more
The series tackles everything from diversity grants, a brain drain, lack of comms, and plenty more
Explore American Science, Shattered
A multipart series on how the Trump administration has disrupted labs, upended lives, and delayed discoveries
Part 1: Scientists lost a reliable partner, with ‘nothing to replace it’
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/a...
By @mmolteni.bsky.social @aniloza.bsky.social
A multipart series on how the Trump administration has disrupted labs, upended lives, and delayed discoveries
Part 1: Scientists lost a reliable partner, with ‘nothing to replace it’
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/a...
By @mmolteni.bsky.social @aniloza.bsky.social
Trump has ‘shaken the hell’ out of the 80-year research pact between the government and universities. What now?
Trump has "shaken the hell" out of the 80-year research pact between the government and universities. What now?
www.statnews.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I don’t have the energy to do a year-end thread right now, but this series is our attempt at analyzing the impacts of this year on biomedical research … and what could come next
The series tackles everything from diversity grants, a brain drain, lack of comms, and plenty more
The series tackles everything from diversity grants, a brain drain, lack of comms, and plenty more
Reposted by anil oza
If you're a first-year biomedical Ph.D. student, I'd like to hear how your first few months of grad school have been going. I'm a science journalist at @statnews.com and got my Ph.D. in immunology before going into journalism. You can reach me at jonathan.wosen@statnews.com. #journorequest
December 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
If you're a first-year biomedical Ph.D. student, I'd like to hear how your first few months of grad school have been going. I'm a science journalist at @statnews.com and got my Ph.D. in immunology before going into journalism. You can reach me at jonathan.wosen@statnews.com. #journorequest
Reposted by anil oza
There's hope for research left in limbo by the Trump administration's cancellation of #NIH-funded projects that were deemed to be DEI-related. As @jonathanwosen.bsky.social & @aniloza.bsky.social report, NIH has agreed to review some frozen or denied grants. www.statnews.com/2025/12/29/n...
Trump administration agrees to reconsider frozen and denied NIH grant submissions related to DEI
NIH agrees to reevaluate research projects left in bureaucratic limbo while a lawsuit over termination of DEI-related grants moves through the courts
www.statnews.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
There's hope for research left in limbo by the Trump administration's cancellation of #NIH-funded projects that were deemed to be DEI-related. As @jonathanwosen.bsky.social & @aniloza.bsky.social report, NIH has agreed to review some frozen or denied grants. www.statnews.com/2025/12/29/n...