Students, faculty mystified as NSF turns back applications for prestigious fellowship program Applicants to a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship program say many submissions have been mysteriously “returned without review.”

Baffling. From @jonathanwosen.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...

As Republicans face attacks for cutting Medicaid funding, Dr. Oz blames states with big cities The Trump admin is reframing steep Medicaid cuts to pit states with large urban centers against those with large rural populations.

huh?

www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/d...

Hims is in the crosshairs. Is a crackdown coming for compounding? A federal regulatory crackdown on Hims could impact a broader network of compounding pharmacies and telehealth companies.

Could be a turning point. @katiepalmer.bsky.social at @statnews.com explores.

www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/h...

We tested the government’s official new AI nutrition tool: Grok Realfood.gov now features a chatbot tool that’s Elon Musk-affiliated — and rather skeptical of some MAHA initiatives.

@sarah-todd.bsky.social and a few of us @statnews.com have a little fun. But also, seriously:

www.statnews.com/2026/02/10/n...

Prasad overruled FDA staff to reject Moderna's flu vaccine application The rejection is the latest instance of Vinay Prasad overruling career FDA scientists to place vaccines under harsher scrutiny.

Once agai, @lizzylawrence.bsky.social is on it at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...

For heart health, low-carb or low-fat diet works, as long as it’s high quality: study To reduce heart disease risk, it's the quality, not the quantity, of carbs or fats that matter, says new study from the American College of Cardiology.

Not all carbs are created alike; nor are all fats. Let's eat foods, not macronutrients, I heard for my story at @statnews.com

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Fearing ICE crackdown, immigrants nationally are avoiding treatment, sometimes with dire consequences Doctors nationally are describing harrowing consequences for patients who put off medical care because of fears of ICE.

"Too scared to leave the house" means higher no-show rates and fewer kids getting needed care, @danielpayne.bsky.social reports at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/i...

What to know about Catherine O’Hara’s rare heart condition, dextrocardia Catherine O'Hara's heart and organs were a mirror image of most people's. Though that is rare, congenital heart defects are fairly common.

After the shock of her death, a remarkable story of what my editor at @statnews.com calls "the varieties and resilience of the human body."

www.statnews.com/2026/02/02/d...

What lingers in ‘The Pitt’ is heartache. What’s missing is outrage “I am hungry, so hungry, for some depiction of Covid that tells the truth. That what was done to us was not just unbearable, but wrong,” an emergency physician writes of “The Pitt.”

A provocative First Opinion at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2026/01/18/t...

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.

Don't miss this deep dive from @isabellacueto.bsky.social at @statnews.com

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

Bariatric surgery beats GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes across income levels, study says Across all income levels, bariatric surgery resulted in better diabetes control than GLP-1s or similar medications, a study found.

“Bariatric surgery remains an underutilized approach. Even in comparison to these really wonderful medications that we now have access to, it is still better,” Mary Elizabeth Patti, an endocrinologist at Joslin Diabetes Center, told me. Here's more at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2026/01/19/d...

UnitedHealth has turned Medicare Advantage coding into ‘profit-centered strategy,’ Senate report finds The probe began after STAT and others reported on UnitedHealth's strategies to boost profits in Medicare Advantage.

Here's more from @bobjherman.bsky.social on the colossus:

www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/u...

State of the union’s cardiovascular health: Gains, but not for everyone The American College of Cardiology found uneven gains and sobering declines in heart health. "You can't treat your way out of a prevention problem," an author said.

Here's a cardiologist's nuanced look at why we're (still) not doing better in the U.S. on cardiovascular disease. Q&A with @rkwadhera.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2026/01/12/a...

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...

With political savvy and outrage over drug prices, advocate David Mitchell was ahead of his time David Mitchell, who helped launch Patients for Affordable Drugs to raise awareness of high drug prices and seek to bring them down, died at age 75.

David Mitchell explained his mission to @statnews.com's Ed Silverman: “I want to tell the drug companies that it’s time for patients to say we’re not going to be frightened any longer by your threats not to give us drugs we need if we don’t pay prices you demand.”

www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/d...

Federal health officials slash recommended childhood vaccinations under Trump’s directive The number of recommended childhood shots drops from 17 to 11.

“This is just one more example of the decisions coming out of HHS that are sowing confusion and making it harder for people to know what to do,” former CDC official Daniel Jernigan said. @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and @helenbranswell.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...

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

CMS divvies up first payments from $50B rural health fund, with an eye toward MAHA goals The Trump administration on Monday announced the distribution of the first payments from a new $50 billion rural health fund — but not all states are getting equal payouts.

How the rural health fund will play out, from @danielpayne.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/12/29/t...

NIH study was a beacon for the topical steroid withdrawal community. Then, amid federal upheaval, the research stalled An NIH study was a beacon for the topical steroid withdrawal community. Then, amid federal upheaval, the research stalled.

When an NIH scientist began studying a controversial illness, it gave patients with a glimmer of hope. Then came RIFs and spending freezes and too much uncertainty to continue the research.

@ericboodman.bsky.social with the 10th part of American Science, Shattered:

www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/t...

An advocate who offered a window on the experience of living with brain cancer dies at 43 Adam Hayden, a patient advocate and the subject of an earlier profile in STAT, has died at age 43.

Do read this, from Andrew Joseph:

www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/a...

Free pass or failing grade for saturated fats? Review sets off scientific and political debate As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signals a fat-friendlier approach to dietary guidelines, a new review offers fodder for opposing sides.

This got a little spicy.

www.statnews.com/2025/12/15/s...

NIH specifies how grant reviewers should ensure alignment with Trump priorities In a memo obtained by STAT, the NIH gives specific steps on how grant reviewers can check for alignment with administration priorities.

NEW: Friday memo from the NIH shows the agency is still thinking about terminations & aligning awards with its priorities

The upside, experts told me, is that this new guidance offers more of an opportunity for researchers to push back on terminations

www.statnews.com/2025/12/15/n...

As vaccine panel prepares hepatitis B review, CDC and industry experts are excluded CDC experts and manufacturers haven't been consulted for an ACIP review of hepatitis B vaccine, raising concerns over any change in the vaccine schedule.

“How they’re approaching this is not how science works,” Sean O’Leary, a doctor who chairs the American Academy of Pediatric’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, said. More from @danielpayne.bsky.social and @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/12/02/a...

Top drug regulator Richard Pazdur set to leave FDA Top drug regulator Richard Pazdur filed papers to retire from the Food and Drug Administration at the end of this month, but could withdraw them.

Exclusive from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/12/02/r...

Medicare Advantage plans to gain $13 billion under Trump changes to star ratings Medicare Advantage insurers scored a Thanksgiving gift, as President Trump’s Medicare agency added back a bonus system that rewards health plans with consistently high marks.

Medicare Advantage insurers scored a Thanksgiving gift, @bobjherman.bsky.social reports at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/11/28/m...

At ‘hush-hush’ MAHA summit, RFK Jr. and deputies to mix with biotech leaders A who's who of MAHA federal officials will be speaking at an event, stacked with industry executives and activists, organized largely in secrecy.

Come for the 'hush-hush,' stay for the 'eloquent rant,' from Allison DeAngelis and @danielpayne.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/m...

Medicare will pay more than $1,000 for AI to analyze a heart scan. Is that too much? Medicare will pay more than $1,000 for AI to analyze a heart scan. Is that too much?

Here's a really important question, from @katiepalmer.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/m...

FDA’s top drug regulator resigns 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.

Update:

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.

Whoa. Exclusive from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social and @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...