Brittany Trang
@brittanytrang.com
Health tech / AI reporter @ STAT News
AAAS MMF '21
PFAS PhD/water nerd
Buckeye/believer/sad indie rock concertgoer
Signal: btrang.01
AAAS MMF '21
PFAS PhD/water nerd
Buckeye/believer/sad indie rock concertgoer
Signal: btrang.01
Pinned
Brittany Trang
@brittanytrang.com
· Jan 14
🚨 Excited to officially announce I'm writing a new newsletter for @statnews.com!
AI Prognosis starts Feb 12. It's all about AI in healthcare, medicine & biotech.
(If you sign up before Jan 20, you'll get the first 4 issues free, even if you don't have STAT+!)
www.statnews.com/signup/ai-pr...
AI Prognosis starts Feb 12. It's all about AI in healthcare, medicine & biotech.
(If you sign up before Jan 20, you'll get the first 4 issues free, even if you don't have STAT+!)
www.statnews.com/signup/ai-pr...
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Thrilled to meet my longtime #scicomm hero @ehmee.bsky.social at #SciWri25 today
and also shocked at how many people who would love her work have not heard of The Brain Scoop!
you simply MUST watch her series documenting taxidermying a wolf!! (TW: gross) youtube.com/playlist?lis...
🧪
and also shocked at how many people who would love her work have not heard of The Brain Scoop!
you simply MUST watch her series documenting taxidermying a wolf!! (TW: gross) youtube.com/playlist?lis...
🧪
November 8, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Thrilled to meet my longtime #scicomm hero @ehmee.bsky.social at #SciWri25 today
and also shocked at how many people who would love her work have not heard of The Brain Scoop!
you simply MUST watch her series documenting taxidermying a wolf!! (TW: gross) youtube.com/playlist?lis...
🧪
and also shocked at how many people who would love her work have not heard of The Brain Scoop!
you simply MUST watch her series documenting taxidermying a wolf!! (TW: gross) youtube.com/playlist?lis...
🧪
Reposted by Brittany Trang
Here is how the search for top drug regulator is going: FDA deputy commissioner Sara Brenner sent an email to CDER staff today soliciting applications to lead the center. More here:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/f...
FDA broadens search for new top drug regulator after early setbacks
George Tidmarsh left the agency amid accusations of misusing his authority and after clashing with another top official.
www.statnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Here is how the search for top drug regulator is going: FDA deputy commissioner Sara Brenner sent an email to CDER staff today soliciting applications to lead the center. More here:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/f...
Reposted by Brittany Trang
Early success can be a curse, as this Sharon Begley obit shows. The man who co-discovered the DNA double helix structure at 25 bought into his own genius to the extent that he clung to racist beliefs despite the cost to his career. Best thing you'll read today:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Early success can be a curse, as this Sharon Begley obit shows. The man who co-discovered the DNA double helix structure at 25 bought into his own genius to the extent that he clung to racist beliefs despite the cost to his career. Best thing you'll read today:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
Call it a Jeni's ice cream standard, I've got a nighttime double scoop 🍨 for you:
Here are the six companies Medicare picked to run its AI prior authorization pilot
And House Democrats are introducing a bill tomorrow to try to stop the program, called WISeR.
Only @statnews.com:
Here are the six companies Medicare picked to run its AI prior authorization pilot
And House Democrats are introducing a bill tomorrow to try to stop the program, called WISeR.
Only @statnews.com:
Medicare picks tech vendors to run AI prior authorization pilot in six states
Medicare has selected the technology vendors who'll run its prior authorization pilot in New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington
www.statnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Call it a Jeni's ice cream standard, I've got a nighttime double scoop 🍨 for you:
Here are the six companies Medicare picked to run its AI prior authorization pilot
And House Democrats are introducing a bill tomorrow to try to stop the program, called WISeR.
Only @statnews.com:
Here are the six companies Medicare picked to run its AI prior authorization pilot
And House Democrats are introducing a bill tomorrow to try to stop the program, called WISeR.
Only @statnews.com:
Reposted by Brittany Trang
“I’m not quite following your argument." Federal appeals court judges' questions & comments on Wednesday suggested they're skeptical of the Trump administration's defense of proposed changes to research overhead payments (indirect costs). My latest for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/n...
Appeals court judges seem skeptical of Trump administration's defense of capping NIH overhead payments
Appeals court judges’ questions and comments suggested they may be skeptical of Trump administration changes to research overhead payments
www.statnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:21 PM
“I’m not quite following your argument." Federal appeals court judges' questions & comments on Wednesday suggested they're skeptical of the Trump administration's defense of proposed changes to research overhead payments (indirect costs). My latest for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/n...
Glad someone (@cenmag.bsky.social) is holding manufacturers to their word.
Includes a handy chart of how plastic-using companies have moved the goalposts on their recycled plastic goals
cen.acs.org/environment/...
Includes a handy chart of how plastic-using companies have moved the goalposts on their recycled plastic goals
cen.acs.org/environment/...
Plastics recycling is in trouble
Consumer product companies have walked back their plastics sustainability goals, and many recyclers are closing their doors
cen.acs.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Glad someone (@cenmag.bsky.social) is holding manufacturers to their word.
Includes a handy chart of how plastic-using companies have moved the goalposts on their recycled plastic goals
cen.acs.org/environment/...
Includes a handy chart of how plastic-using companies have moved the goalposts on their recycled plastic goals
cen.acs.org/environment/...
Amid multiple studies showing that AI models aren't using medical reasoning to score well on medical board exams, radiation oncologist/Harvard AI researcher Danielle Bitterman really nails how the thinking about LLMs is flawed:
🩺🖥️
🩺🖥️
November 5, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Amid multiple studies showing that AI models aren't using medical reasoning to score well on medical board exams, radiation oncologist/Harvard AI researcher Danielle Bitterman really nails how the thinking about LLMs is flawed:
🩺🖥️
🩺🖥️
watch to get the context for "David Half-Asselhoff" 😆
And one more with maybe my favorite pun I've ever snuck into a video
November 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
watch to get the context for "David Half-Asselhoff" 😆
Reposted by Brittany Trang
Sometimes doctors "fake" CPR. It's called a "slow code" in medical parlance. But "slow code" is really an umbrella term for all types of insincere attempts at CPR. Here's a clip from my new @statnews.com video on the topic
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Sometimes doctors "fake" CPR. It's called a "slow code" in medical parlance. But "slow code" is really an umbrella term for all types of insincere attempts at CPR. Here's a clip from my new @statnews.com video on the topic
Reposted by Brittany Trang
The FDA’s Digital Health Advisory Committee (DHAC) will convene to discuss nitty gritty details around the regulation of therapy chatbots and other mental health devices that use generative AI, @mariojoze.bsky.social reports:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f... via @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f... via @statnews.com
FDA digital advisers confront risks of therapy chatbots, weigh possible regulation
FDA's digital advisors could nudge the agency to clarify how its rules apply to medical applications of generative AI, including therapy chatbots.
www.statnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
The FDA’s Digital Health Advisory Committee (DHAC) will convene to discuss nitty gritty details around the regulation of therapy chatbots and other mental health devices that use generative AI, @mariojoze.bsky.social reports:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f... via @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f... via @statnews.com
Very excited for this event happening TOMORROW with some of my most brilliant colleagues @jasonmast.bsky.social & Damian Garde.
They'll be talking about Moderna, which they both profiled — 9 years and a world apart.
You don't want to miss this!
Sign up here:
🩺💉🧬🧪🧫
They'll be talking about Moderna, which they both profiled — 9 years and a world apart.
You don't want to miss this!
Sign up here:
🩺💉🧬🧪🧫
The Once and Future Moderna
A live look at STAT’s reporting on the unraveling of Moderna with Jason Mast and Damian Garde.
www.statnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Very excited for this event happening TOMORROW with some of my most brilliant colleagues @jasonmast.bsky.social & Damian Garde.
They'll be talking about Moderna, which they both profiled — 9 years and a world apart.
You don't want to miss this!
Sign up here:
🩺💉🧬🧪🧫
They'll be talking about Moderna, which they both profiled — 9 years and a world apart.
You don't want to miss this!
Sign up here:
🩺💉🧬🧪🧫
Reposted by Brittany Trang
Scoop from STAT’s Allison DeAngelis and @jasonmast.bsky.social
Arena BioWorks, the buzzy research institute that launched nearly two years ago with $500 million to support a decade of scientific R&D, is abruptly shutting down.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/a...
Arena BioWorks, the buzzy research institute that launched nearly two years ago with $500 million to support a decade of scientific R&D, is abruptly shutting down.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/a...
Arena BioWorks, an ambitious biomedical institute backed by billionaires, abruptly shuts down
Exclusive: Arena Bioworks, the buzzy research institute that launched with $500 million to support a decade of scientific R&D, is abruptly shutting down, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Scoop from STAT’s Allison DeAngelis and @jasonmast.bsky.social
Arena BioWorks, the buzzy research institute that launched nearly two years ago with $500 million to support a decade of scientific R&D, is abruptly shutting down.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/a...
Arena BioWorks, the buzzy research institute that launched nearly two years ago with $500 million to support a decade of scientific R&D, is abruptly shutting down.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/a...
Breaking news from me this morning: Recursion Pharmaceuticals' Chris Gibson, who promised 100 drugs in 10 years in the early days of the tech-powered company, is stepping down as CEO.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/r...
Recursion CEO Chris Gibson out as company head after 12 years
Recursion CEO Chris Gibson is out after 12 years as the ambitious ‘techbio’ company positions itself for its next phase of AI drug discovery.
www.statnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Breaking news from me this morning: Recursion Pharmaceuticals' Chris Gibson, who promised 100 drugs in 10 years in the early days of the tech-powered company, is stepping down as CEO.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/r...
Reposted by Brittany Trang
What does all this chaos at FDA mean for biotech and for patients? @matthewherper.bsky.social and I talked to experts, and have more on the drama between the drug and biologics center leaders — "We now have FDA "Mean Girls" burn books out in the open," a source said. www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/f...
Experts worry FDA’s credibility is being shredded by scandal and 'soap opera'
Experts worry that the FDA’s credibility is being shredded by scandal and "soap opera."
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
What does all this chaos at FDA mean for biotech and for patients? @matthewherper.bsky.social and I talked to experts, and have more on the drama between the drug and biologics center leaders — "We now have FDA "Mean Girls" burn books out in the open," a source said. www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/f...
Reposted by Brittany Trang
If anyone needs to know this, most plastic wrap in the US is made from polyethylene, but plastic wrap in Europe is made from PVC. This really matters if you are trying to make a decorative sugar dome for a cake after you saw them do it on a British baking show. #chemsky
November 3, 2025 at 12:59 AM
If anyone needs to know this, most plastic wrap in the US is made from polyethylene, but plastic wrap in Europe is made from PVC. This really matters if you are trying to make a decorative sugar dome for a cake after you saw them do it on a British baking show. #chemsky
That escalated quickly...
The biggest story in health care AI right now has bypassed patient care and gone straight to the money.
Insurers and providers are duking it out over bills and claims with AI lightsabers. I predicted this back in the summer 👇
Let's take a closer look. 🧵
🩺🖥️
The biggest story in health care AI right now has bypassed patient care and gone straight to the money.
Insurers and providers are duking it out over bills and claims with AI lightsabers. I predicted this back in the summer 👇
Let's take a closer look. 🧵
🩺🖥️
November 3, 2025 at 5:10 PM
That escalated quickly...
The biggest story in health care AI right now has bypassed patient care and gone straight to the money.
Insurers and providers are duking it out over bills and claims with AI lightsabers. I predicted this back in the summer 👇
Let's take a closer look. 🧵
🩺🖥️
The biggest story in health care AI right now has bypassed patient care and gone straight to the money.
Insurers and providers are duking it out over bills and claims with AI lightsabers. I predicted this back in the summer 👇
Let's take a closer look. 🧵
🩺🖥️
Exclusive details in the STAT story, with this tidbit from an email:
“Let me be clear,” FDA CBER's Vinay Prasad wrote. “If you continue to choose not to do what I tell you. I will spend all of my political capital gets [sic] you fired.”
“Let me be clear,” FDA CBER's Vinay Prasad wrote. “If you continue to choose not to do what I tell you. I will spend all of my political capital gets [sic] you fired.”
Story has more details now about Tidmarsh's feud with biotech investor Kevin Tang. Tang's company sued Tidmarsh today, accusing him of a "longstanding personal vendetta":
BREAKING: FDA’s top drug regulator George Tidmarsh has been placed on leave after being accused of abusing his regulatory authority - but also after he questioned the commissioner's plan to speed approvals, and clashed with Vinay Prasad. More here:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
November 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Exclusive details in the STAT story, with this tidbit from an email:
“Let me be clear,” FDA CBER's Vinay Prasad wrote. “If you continue to choose not to do what I tell you. I will spend all of my political capital gets [sic] you fired.”
“Let me be clear,” FDA CBER's Vinay Prasad wrote. “If you continue to choose not to do what I tell you. I will spend all of my political capital gets [sic] you fired.”
Reposted by Brittany Trang
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation
CDER Director George Tidmarsh is accused of seeking to use authority to inflict financial harm on former associate
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
CDER Director George Tidmarsh is accused of seeking to use authority to inflict financial harm on former associate
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation
George Tidmarsh, the FDA's top drug regulator, has been placed on leave after being accused of abusing his regulatory authority, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 9:52 PM
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation
CDER Director George Tidmarsh is accused of seeking to use authority to inflict financial harm on former associate
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
CDER Director George Tidmarsh is accused of seeking to use authority to inflict financial harm on former associate
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
Reposted by Brittany Trang
2. Also please read @lizzylawrence.bsky.social's piece on the impact Vinay Prasad is having on #FDA's vaccines division, where between Prasad pushing leaders out and people heading for the exits, there are concerns about #CBER's capacity to function. www.statnews.com/2025/10/31/v...
Under Vinay Prasad, employees at a key FDA center fear speaking out, look for the exits
Exclusive: Vinay Prasad has rattled FDA staff by expanding his power and pushing out senior leaders.
www.statnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:42 PM
2. Also please read @lizzylawrence.bsky.social's piece on the impact Vinay Prasad is having on #FDA's vaccines division, where between Prasad pushing leaders out and people heading for the exits, there are concerns about #CBER's capacity to function. www.statnews.com/2025/10/31/v...
Reposted by Brittany Trang
1. Looking for weekend reads? Can't do better than these by my uber-talented @statnews.com colleagues @jasonmast.bsky.social & @lizzylawrence.bsky.social.
First, Jason's indepth look at #Moderna's transition from pandemic savior to company with significant problems. www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/m...
First, Jason's indepth look at #Moderna's transition from pandemic savior to company with significant problems. www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/m...
How Moderna, the company that helped save the world, unraveled
Exclusive: The inside story of why Moderna now faces a crisis unlike any in its 15-year-history.
www.statnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:42 PM
1. Looking for weekend reads? Can't do better than these by my uber-talented @statnews.com colleagues @jasonmast.bsky.social & @lizzylawrence.bsky.social.
First, Jason's indepth look at #Moderna's transition from pandemic savior to company with significant problems. www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/m...
First, Jason's indepth look at #Moderna's transition from pandemic savior to company with significant problems. www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/m...
Reposted by Brittany Trang
Moderna, a hero of the pandemic, charted a course to change medicine with mRNA.
"It has not worked out that way," @jasonmast.bsky.social reports in this must-read.
"It has not worked out that way," @jasonmast.bsky.social reports in this must-read.
October 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Moderna, a hero of the pandemic, charted a course to change medicine with mRNA.
"It has not worked out that way," @jasonmast.bsky.social reports in this must-read.
"It has not worked out that way," @jasonmast.bsky.social reports in this must-read.
My colleague @alexhogan.bsky.social is re-launching the STATus Report — @statnews.com, but on YouTube!
In his first reboot video, he takes us to the skate park and does his own stunts, all to teach us about...Ozempic and "genericide"?
Check it out, and subscribe for videos every Wednesday!
🩺🧬🧪
In his first reboot video, he takes us to the skate park and does his own stunts, all to teach us about...Ozempic and "genericide"?
Check it out, and subscribe for videos every Wednesday!
🩺🧬🧪
What do Ozempic and Rollerblades have in common?
YouTube video by STAT
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM
My colleague @alexhogan.bsky.social is re-launching the STATus Report — @statnews.com, but on YouTube!
In his first reboot video, he takes us to the skate park and does his own stunts, all to teach us about...Ozempic and "genericide"?
Check it out, and subscribe for videos every Wednesday!
🩺🧬🧪
In his first reboot video, he takes us to the skate park and does his own stunts, all to teach us about...Ozempic and "genericide"?
Check it out, and subscribe for videos every Wednesday!
🩺🧬🧪
Reposted by Brittany Trang
The NIH has insisted there are no banned words
But, an analysis by @jeremymberg.bsky.social found over 700 hundred grants changed their titles from '24 to '25
Some see it as a small price to pay to keep their grant, but others are worried about what comes next
www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
But, an analysis by @jeremymberg.bsky.social found over 700 hundred grants changed their titles from '24 to '25
Some see it as a small price to pay to keep their grant, but others are worried about what comes next
www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Scientists had to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding. Health disparities researchers fear what’s next
The titles of more than 700 multi-year NIH grants have been changed this year, according to an analysis by Jeremy Berg, a former agency official
www.statnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The NIH has insisted there are no banned words
But, an analysis by @jeremymberg.bsky.social found over 700 hundred grants changed their titles from '24 to '25
Some see it as a small price to pay to keep their grant, but others are worried about what comes next
www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
But, an analysis by @jeremymberg.bsky.social found over 700 hundred grants changed their titles from '24 to '25
Some see it as a small price to pay to keep their grant, but others are worried about what comes next
www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Reposted by Brittany Trang
New: Eli Lilly, NVIDIA announce they are teaming up to build the “most powerful supercomputer owned and operated by a pharmaceutical company.” Via @brittanytrang.com
www.statnews.com/2025/10/28/e...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/28/e...
Eli Lilly, NVIDIA team up to build pharma’s biggest AI supercomputer
Eli Lilly announced a partnership with chipmaker NVIDIA to build what it claims will be the “most powerful supercomputer owned and operated by a pharmaceutical company.”
www.statnews.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
New: Eli Lilly, NVIDIA announce they are teaming up to build the “most powerful supercomputer owned and operated by a pharmaceutical company.” Via @brittanytrang.com
www.statnews.com/2025/10/28/e...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/28/e...