At the end of January, Washington, DC, saw an extremely unusual event. The MAHA Institute, which was set up to advocate for some of the most profoundly unscientific ideas of our time, hosted leaders of the best-funded scientific organization on the planet, the National Institutes of Health. Instead of a hostile reception, however, Jay Bhattacharya, the head of the NIH, was greeted as a hero by the audience, receiving a partial standing ovation when he rose to speak.
This year, the White House has broadcast its intent to greatly reduce animal experimentation in the United States. In early April, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would require less testing on animals for the development of a widely used class of drugs-an approach, the agency says, that should speed up the drug-development process and eventually lower drug prices.
NIH is proud to lead this effort to advance vaccine safety and support innovation that protects children without compromise. By reinstating this Task Force, we are reaffirming our commitment to rigorous science, continuous improvement, and the trust of American families.
Dissent is the very essence of science... I’ll foster a culture where NIH leadership will actively encourage different perspectives and create an environment where scientists... can express disagreement, respectfully.