Why is no one talking about public health layoffs?; the future of "disruptive science"; and more

February 5, 2023 Check out STAT+

Sponsored By

By Patrick Skerrett Editor, First Opinion

The perplexing silence around public health layoffs. Disruptive science is alive and well. The FDA's proposal to end decades of discrimination against gay men donating blood. Those are just a few of this week's wide-ranging First Opinion essays. If you have an idea for an essay, or know someone who should be writing one, let me know at first.opinion@statnews.com.

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images I was laid off from a public health job. Trust me, tech layoffs are different Layoffs in the tech sector are making headlines. Equally big cuts in the public health workforce have gone almost unnoticed. By Katie D. Schenk Disruptive science is leaping forward, not limping along A study claiming that disruptive innovation in science has dramatically and mysteriously declined since 1945 has it wrong. By Juergen Eckhardt and George Church FDA: Base blood donation policy on science, not stigma The FDA should make permanent its plan to include gay men in blood donation programs without stigmatizing restrictions. By Scott Jelinek Adobe Death by missing data: Uncollected racial and ethnic pandemic data will drive inequities for decades to come Missing data on race and ethnicity has been an issue throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. How bad has the problem been? Far beyond bad. By Jennifer W. Tsai and Rohan Khazanchi and Emily Laflamme The FDA is the right agency to regulate CBD products, but it needs help The FDA is the best agency to regulate CBD products, but needs new tools to manage CBD risks separate from existing food and supplement rules. By Rosalie Liccardo Pacula Promises — and pitfalls — of ChatGPT-assisted medicine ChatGPT could assist with medical education and administrative tasks. But it isn't ready for clinical decision-making. By Rushabh H. Doshi and Simar S. Bajaj Adobe Invasive strep A: bad in affluent countries, far worse in low-income nations Though low-income countries bear the brunt of severe strep A diseases, there is little funding for research to address this pressing issue. By Dylan D. Barth and Mark E. Engel Generics: a missing piece in China's Covid-19 crisis response By not allowing the importation of foreign-made generics, China is making it difficult for its citizens to get access to Paxlovid. By Cathy Tie Unlocking the promise of learning from everyone with cancer A tool called mCODE could improve cancer care by capturing the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of every person with cancer. By Jay J. Schnitzer Adobe STAT+ | As it turns 40, the Orphan Drug Act for rare diseases needs a refresh Science has evolved since the Orphan Drug Act became law in 1983. A version 2.0 is needed to help develop therapies for ultrarare diseases. By Emil D. Kakkis How the Biden administration's Covid preparedness policies could narrow America's political divide The White House's Covid Winter Preparedness plan sidesteps the emerging evidence base and President Biden's pledge to "follow the science." By Steven Phillips and Robert C. Gallo and Christian Bréchot STAT+ | A watershed year for biosimilars — if regulators and policymakers step up 2023 could be a banner year for biosimilars if regulators and policymakers require them to be included in Medicare and other formularies. By Juliana M. Reed

More around STAT

Check out more exclusive coverage with a STAT+ subscription Read premium in-depth biotech, pharma, policy, and life science coverage and analysis with all of our STAT+ articles.

---

Enjoying First Opinion? Tell us about your experience Continue reading the latest health & science news with the STAT app Download on the App Store or get it on Google Play

REPORTS NEWSLETTERS EVENTS STAT+

STAT, 1 Exchange Place, Boston, MA ©2023, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails

Update Newsletter Preferences     •    Contact Us     •    Advertise with Us     •    View in Browser