On path to likely confirmation as NIH director, Bhattacharya toes the party line The nominee vowed to stand up for science, while batting away suggestions his future bosses have not

https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/jay-bhattacharya-nih-director-confirmation-hearing-analysis/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8v4Esg-kP52fIJDauHak2v-3G52Xbg9Y2b-I5cpWtACBOv6P8WsqOQVvu2HeDKx4iYIJ4CuZTMGeNk1GVjc7yCamcjhA&_hsmi=350344450&utm_content=350344450&utm_source=hs_email Jay Bhattacharya is “convinced” that vaccines don’t cause autism — but in his confirmation hearing in front of a Senate committee yesterday, he wouldn’t rule out funding even more research to provide vaccine skeptics with “good data.” He doesn’t believe that ideology should determine the direction of science, yet he wouldn’t commit to restoring NIH research funding for LGBTQ+ issues. He often called for addressing public distrust in science rather than directly answer questions that might put him at odds with President Trump or health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The theatrics that played out yesterday aren’t likely to have an effect on the vote. As STAT’s Eric Boodman writes, Bhattacharya is considered a shoo-in. But the nominee’s responses to each question provide a glimpse of how he may lead the agency. Read more in Eric’s sharp analysis of the hearing. And if you missed it, go back to his profile of Bhattacharya from earlier this week to learn more about the many contradictions of this wonky-economist-turned-Covid-firebrand. NIH nominee is ‘convinced’ vaccines don’t cause autism, but won’t rule out more studies on the issue Jay Bhattacharya’s vaccine comments frustrate a key Republican senator https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/05/trump-nih-nominee-jay-bhattacharya-confirmation-research-on-vaccines-autism/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9_lDG0pxYnq-XWnry2XAOvGTbNdZ-KrIK_QWj0oXPWrHOoeXCdZKs0A6QDZQrQo0IPeTHQBT-VBY51i7GkKqNS_iHklg&_hsmi=350344450&utm_content=350344450&utm_source=hs_email NIH terminates ongoing grants for LGBTQ+ research Scientists worry they will have to lay off staff, but vow to find a way to continue their work https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/03/nih-terminates-ongoing-grants-for-lgbtq-research/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Lr414me5mvBY8iWkUVomrO4ioau0p7ZVnC4HA34YC4IVu7TxliBczEQleJCf5bjZ8MCegyUfulby1Gdm4ia7YnKsOtg&_hsmi=350344450&utm_content=350344450&utm_source=hs_email ‘Wrong,’ ‘misleading,’ and ‘reasonable’: How Jay Bhattacharya became, for some, the least bad option to run NIH Eric Boodman By Eric Boodman https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/04/jay-bhattacharya-trump-nih-director-nominee-profile-of-credentials-contradictions/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9H0DgYoDiChTAmdPnYRxJ0YcNg5urx4rNrqTclmUsJjkKuuT-6vs6wqSj5vZH6RuRwT3br8GE4kAvU8euKtQc_f3JB9g&_hsmi=350344450&utm_content=350344450&utm_source=hs_email