Q&A: Why this health AI startup is shutting down Maia Hightower, CEO of Equality AI, on what went wrong

https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/27/equality-ai-maia-hightower-artificial-intelligence-local-validation/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9sQwfb35nrYhu_pmRWM4r_kkqOrvNTN2IMlWvEf9XtL6cnXb8nEXShhVsmXolPdAh__RhPm5YB5ZVMWogT_pb52DX1sQ&_hsmi=344205424&utm_content=344205424&utm_source=hs_email science Chaos in science as Trump changes take effect One week into the second Trump administration, the president’s restrictions have sparked chaos across federal health and science agencies. At academic conferences, mid-level health officials cancelled appearances or suddenly logged off virtual meetings that were already in progress. Committees tasked with deciding which scientific research to fund postponed key meetings. https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/24/trump-nih-grant-review-freeze-alarms-scientists-fears-grow-dei-order-impact/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8pSma-pgih50FW6jQnUG6M0z8MqOhjGuUR8divqXKL7umJULK63fjttVA_CCrxe5CCT-wyqyMFN43m0UolpnofrRQskA&_hsmi=344205424&utm_content=344205424&utm_source=hs_emailAt the FDA, staff scrambled to remove information online about the agency’s diversity efforts — not just programs related to its workforce, but also those meant to ensure clinical trials enroll participants of all races and ethnicities. Researchers at institutions across the country told STAT that the chaos has left many early-career scientists in limbo, unsure if they’ll have money to pay lab members’ salaries or run experiments. https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/23/fda-purges-pages-clinical-trial-diversity-after-trump-dei-ban/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9XwQjjRYUj48DTxZg9Lzj6nD_fZ5usLepG8bN1LN_WBjfPWaoxI63MZShjYbSSXIPSVZ4N-N9uP2kb5plQJ_YMMCiI2w&_hsmi=344205424&utm_content=344205424&utm_source=hs_email “People feel completely off-balance, especially in public health,” researcher Michael Osterholm told STAT. “Right now, I have no idea who’s driving the truck, or for that matter, if we even have gas in the tank.” Read more about how Trump’s moves are interrupting basic but critical work at health agencies. And if you’ve been affected by the Trump administration’s pause on communications, science meetings, and reviews, or by the executive orders to stop diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, we’d love to hear about your experience. https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/24/trump-restrictions-dei-communications-health-and-science-agencies-nih-cdc-fda/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_NGHBHwwvzrwnF5Gcg8CgBDuCgstwBDJrzww4LIU3Xh6Yt2FjqcMqxyi14OYGNXhZ4Hn5KKPs_lcO2YZ6dfc_qX1VziQ&_hsmi=344205424&utm_content=344205424&utm_source=hs_email One more thing — even the private sector has been affected by the changes already. STAT’s Brittany Trang spoke with Maia Hightower, the CEO of Equality AI, about the company’s decision last week to shut down. Trump’s executive order was the “final nail,” Hightower told Brittany. Read more of their conversation. https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/25/trump-pause-science-meetings-communications-research-tips/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8skBGDSGDCkkEAoF3sIJmuT1MOlssUP_hBXH1wnp7ojO-XShyzhluTS4UkWG0DasB8an1NCE0bqz1rRuyzNPYJ7809eQ&_hsmi=344205424&utm_content=344205424&utm_source=hs_email