Isabella Cueto

Rare disease advocates fume over FDA's mixed signals Families facing rare diseases feel whiplash over shifting and contradictory decisions by the FDA.

As the FDA touts a faster route for drugs to get to rare disease patients, many advocates are left scratching their heads about the agency's other recent decisions. Smart story from @jasonmast.bsky.social, who is on STAT's cute-baby beat.

www.statnews.com/2026/02/26/r...

Brain implants: What's standing in the way of pivotal trials, FDA approval Thirty years after scientists demonstrated how brain implants can help rhesus monkeys move robotic limbs using only their mind, the clinical pathway for the technology is still a little out of focus.

Brain-computer implants have helped some patients with ALS or paralysis move, speak and function

So why are they not yet approved? Companies, researchers and regulators can't agree on how to actually prove, in large trials, they work

Via @rosebroderick.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2026/02/26/b...

Tracking RFK Jr.’s promises to remake health in America STAT introduces a goals and promises tracker for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement — successes, incompletes, and fails.

It's been a year since Kennedy became health secretary. What has he accomplished? We updated our tracker: www.statnews.com/2025/09/10/r...

The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of...

8/ For more on what kids are experiencing inside the Dilley detention center, read the full story by reporter @micarosenberg.bsky.social:

1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.

Hundreds of kids are still detained.

We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵

As male birth control gets closer to reality, men are lining up for clinical trials It was long believed that men wouldn't reliably use birth control, but many are signing up for clinical trials of experimental male contraceptives.

www.statnews.com/2026/02/02/m...

With new vaccine schedule secured, RFK Jr. allies head to statehouses The overhaul of the federal vaccine schedule sent shockwaves through American health care. Now battles over vaccine laws are moving to statehouses across the country.

With a new U.S. vaccine schedule in hand, RFK Jr. allies aim for a bigger prize: changing state law

If they're successful, vaccine requirements for schools and daycares could be a thing of the past

w/ @isabellacueto.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/v...

NEW: President Donald Trump’s top immigration officials have repeatedly made statements after violent encounters involving agents - including two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in Minneapolis this month - that were later contradicted by evidence, Reuters found.

www.reuters.com/world/us/evi...

Alex Pretti remembered by health care workers at a Minneapolis vigil as a ‘stand-up guy’ Health care workers brought flowers and wreaths, lit candles, and draped stethoscopes over a wooden cross as a makeshift memorial to nurse Alex Pretti.

www.statnews.com/2026/01/26/a...

What RFK Jr.’s milk mustache says about the historic power of dairy in the U.S. Milk is getting an AI-assisted push from federal officials. Will other foods favored by MAHA get similar treatment?

Turns out there's a lot of historical precedent for the government's new milk mustache campaign! Dive in for some early 20th century eugenics history + 1990s throwback trivia:

www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/n...

If you're a researcher with some free time, I encourage you to take a look at the science underpinning new DGA recommendations. See something interesting/smart/unusual? I want to hear about it.
cdn.realfood.gov/Scientific%2...

Behind new dietary guidelines: Industry-funded studies, opaque science, crushing deadline pressure A look at the "outrageous" timeline and influence issues on the scientific panel that led to a new food pyramid.

A deeper look at how new US dietary guidelines were shaped reveals rushed scientific reviews, industry-funded studies, and unanswered questions that are of great consequence to the American people.

Exclusive: www.statnews.com/2026/01/17/n...

Trump administration cuts up to $1.9 billion from mental health and addiction treatment programs SAMHSA canceled up to $1.9 billion in grants without staff consultation, accelerating the mental health agency's deterioration under President Trump.

"Cuts affect organizations providing a broad array of services, including comprehensive opioid treatment; addiction care for people experiencing homelessness; helping adults transition out of prison," and more.

www.statnews.com/2026/01/14/s...

Tracking RFK Jr.’s promises to remake health in America STAT introduces a goals and promises tracker for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement — successes, incompletes, and fails.

A reminder that we're tracking Sec. Kennedy and MAHA's promises, with regular updates, here: www.statnews.com/2025/09/10/r...

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?

How saturated fats lost ..and won in new dietary guidelines. @sarah-todd.bsky.social's smart piece:

www.statnews.com/2026/01/08/s...

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.

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...

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.

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...

New vaccine schedule adds near- and long-term risks for children, experts warn Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to improve children’s health. But his sweeping changes to the nation’s childhood vaccine schedule will do the opposite, health experts warn.

“Our kids are going to die from some of these diseases that we have resources against,” Elizabeth Choma, a D.C. pediatric nurse practitioner, said. New from @isabellacueto.bsky.social:

www.statnews.com/2026/01/06/w...

Sign up for AASLD in 30 Seconds The latest from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

If you haven't cloned yourself to be able to see every cool session at AASLD's #TLM25, maybe read our (free) newsletter?

We'll be sending out letters with interesting studies + tidbits from the conference tomorrow and Tuesday AM. Sign up here: www.statnews.com/signup/aasld...

7 burning questions about Trump’s big deal for cheaper weight loss drugs Trump's weight loss drug announcement raises questions from the commercial market to Medicare.

7 burning questions about Trump’s big deal for cheaper weight loss drugs.

Via @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/11/06/t...

I'll be covering #TLM25 for @statnews.com this weekend. Say hi if you see me, or lmk what you're most looking forward to learning about!

Kennedy, a longtime pharma critic, embraces Trump deal to expand access to obesity drugs RFK Jr. has railed against drugmakers but he struck a different tone in commenting on President Trump's deal to expand access to obesity drugs

RFK Jr., a longtime pharma critic, embraced Trump's deal to lower obesity medication prices yesterday — despite MAHA's opposition to the drugs. ICYMI: www.statnews.com/2025/11/06/r...

In Texas, the nation's MAHA capital, many are frustrated with the status quo in health care Texas is the MAHA capital of the country — offering a look at health policies that may soon roll across the country.

New: I spent a week in Texas to see what people thought of MAHA, Secretary Kennedy and health care. To some, this state is the heart of the movement.

I was consistently surprised by what I heard, and moved by how Texans are grappling with poor health. Come w/ me: www.statnews.com/2025/11/03/m...

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

New story up on the non-existent banned words from NIH grants (based on my grant title, word cloud analysis)

www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...

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Why SNAP benefits are at risk as shutdown drags on The Trump administration has prepared to weather a shutdown for a long time, but SNAP benefits for November are at risk as the dysfunction in Washington continues.

The Trump administration has prepared to weather a shutdown for a long time, but SNAP benefits for November are at risk as the dysfunction in Washington continues.

foodfix.co/why-snap-ben...

In Texas, ex-vegan restaurateurs put MAHA's vision for farming to the test A former vegan chef is trying to execute MAHA's dream of a utopian future based on small-scale, family-owned farms.

Come for the captivating details like a $5k portrait of RFK Jr with no bidders, stay for @isabellacueto.bsky.social's nuanced portrait of MAHA-friendly regenerative farming in Texas

www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/m...

In Texas, ex-vegan restaurateurs put MAHA's vision for farming to the test A former vegan chef is trying to execute MAHA's dream of a utopian future based on small-scale, family-owned farms.

Near a tiny Texas town known as the "cowboy capital of the world," siblings who ran popular vegan restaurants in L.A. are trying to make a 200-acre "regenerative" ranch work.

It's an experiment that could serve as a proof-of-concept for MAHA. NEW:
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/m...

Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.

my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements

we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)

www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...

Meet the 2025 STAT Wunderkinds This year, as in past years, we've found inspiring stories and innovative research. All are blazing new trails as they attempt to answer some of the

At a time when conflict and cynicism seem to be shadowing much of health and medicine, @statnews.com is recognizing some of the brightest young minds in their fields this morning.

www.statnews.com/wunderkinds/

Five people sitting on the summit stage

Our first session of the day: A Milestone for Gene Editing

@jasonmast.bsky.social talks with Kyle and Nicole Muldoon, Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, and Kiran Musunuru about how CRISPR was used to correct a misspelling in KJ Muldoon genes when he was just 6 months old.

#STATSummit