Exclusive: Former NIH director Francis Collins worries for his safety

The scientist, like Anthony Fauci, has been the subject of intense criticism over Covid response.

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DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images STAT+ | Former NIH director Francis Collins, once beloved in Washington, now worries for his safety there Collins said he fears speaking out makes him more vulnerable, adding: "I don't know what to do about that. I can't go hide under my desk."  By Anil Oza and Katherine MacPhail Mayo Clinic's partnership with dairy poses conflict of interest, critics say Experts say health entities should not partner with trade associations because of conflict-of-interest concerns. Mayo insists its research is independent. By Sarah Todd STAT+ | For Google, health equity becomes 'health optimization' as Trump targets DEI Online search giant Google recently revised its websites and changed a senior executive's title to downplay its commitment to health equity. By Mario Aguilar Adobe Scientists' suit against top academic publishers lays bare deep frustration over unpaid peer review Scientists want pay for peer review, freedom to submit to multiple journals. Publishers say their practices have been common for decades By Jonathan Wosen STAT+ | Novo Nordisk shares drop after next-gen obesity drug disappoints in diabetes trial The company is facing pressure to develop a new blockbuster obesity drug to follow up on its approved GLP-1 treatment Wegovy. By Elaine Chen STAT+ | Beam Therapeutics says CRISPR treatment shows encouraging results in lung condition The company used base editing to fix a mutation that drives a debilitating lung condition, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or AATD. By Jason Mast Adobe STAT+ | Opinion: How will the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research change under RFK Jr.? A recent agency workshop on cell therapies and tissue-based products brought some surprises with potentially major implications. By Paul Knoepfler STAT+ | A U.K. trade group is due to lift its suspension of Novo Nordisk, but critics cite a lack of transparency Critics cite a lack of transparency, and the group says its audits contain "company sensitive information... They are not intended to be public documents." By Ed Silverman

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