Charles Piller
@cpiller
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Investigative reporter @sciencemagazine . Before: investigations for @statnews @sacbee_news @latimes . cpiller @charlespiller .com - Signal 510.469.7984 - open DMs.
San Francisco Bay Area
Joined February 2011
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Pinned Tweet
My latest investigation for
@newsfromscience
: Star neuroscientist Berislav Zlokovic of
@KECKSchool_USC
implicated in possible misconduct involving apparent data doctoring going back 25+ years. Includes science behind a stroke drug in major human trials 1/5
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Were two separate, major lines of Alzheimer’s research tainted by image fabrication, with far-reaching implications for the field? I take a deep look for
@ScienceMagazine
🧵 1/11
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The inside story of how Trump’s Covid coordinator Deborah Birx undermined CDC and created a hospital data “debacle” with perilous implications. My latest investigation for
@ScienceMagazine
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My latest deep dive for
@sciencemagazine
: Botanist Steven Newmaster won scientific fame and business success with tests that purportedly showed herbal remedies didn’t contain the ingredients on their labels. Was it all based on fraud? 1/6
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Last year, I wrote about multiple instances of apparent image doctoring in a landmark Nature paper on Alzheimer’s. Here are some new developments of note – thread 1/4
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Neuroscientist
@schrag_matthew
discovered >150 technical images/data by scientists linked to $sava (incl its drug Simufilam) that showed signs of improper manipulation. In my story, he outs himself as a whistleblower to
@US_FDA
and
@NIH
2/11
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Take a look at the whole story here:
11/11
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Following my investigation into her work with
@Lsylvain
, Karen Ashe says her own Nature paper should be retracted. My investigation here:
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Updated: This article now includes a link to one of several crucial, previously unpublished CDC reports used in my reporting that evaluates HHS Protect hospital data -- showing many causes for concern. See for yourself.
My latest story, based on leaked documents, reveals a COVID-19 imperative for Biden: to aid planning and response, he must fix the dangerously dysfunctional HHS Protect hospital data system, or return the responsibility to CDC.
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My latest: Long-awaited CUNY investigation finds that Hoau-Yan Wang, a key scientist behind Cassava Sciences’ Alzheimer’s drug, engaged in “longstanding and egregious misconduct” associated with studies supporting the drug, simufilam. 1/3
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My latest story, based on leaked documents, reveals a COVID-19 imperative for Biden: to aid planning and response, he must fix the dangerously dysfunctional HHS Protect hospital data system, or return the responsibility to CDC.
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NEW and unrelated to $sava, Schrag found >70 apparently doctored images in work by
@umnmedschool
prof Sylvain Lesné -
@Lsylvain
- and colleagues, including leading Alzheimer’s scholar Karen Ashe
4/11
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Sponsors of clinical trials must by law report the results. These 30 research orgs broke that law 100% of the time - Part of my larger investigation just out
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This broadens earlier concerns about $sava -linked work reported by
@joewalkerWSJ
@davidamichaels
@apoorva_nyc
@praddenkeefe
and others
3/11
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Hidden conflicts in
#FDA
drug approvals? My deep dive for
@sciencemagazine
: pharma $ to FDA advisors – before and after advisory meetings that recommended drug approvals. “Pay-later conflicts of interest” have gone largely unnoticed & entirely unpoliced.
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My latest: Dangerous precedent - Former FDA leaders decry emergency authorization of malaria drugs for Covid-19 - “a step away from scientific rigor, to ... wishful thinking to frank political and economic motivations.”
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This is a serious matter that is worth reading fully.
@MicrobiomDigest
is one of the most courageous and skilled forensic image analysts. I trust her work and rely on her incisive observations. The attacks on her are reprehensible.
Male stock investor wants to sue a woman science critic because he thinks her reputation is dangerous. He wants me to stop and stripped of my PhD.
Please tell
@mattNachtrab
what you think of his plan to sue me - for being regarded an expert, I guess?
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My latest: Second death linked to lecanemab - heralded potential antibody treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Heightens safety concerns
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I’m honored to be a winner of the National Academies/Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communications, for stories highlighting signs of misconduct in Alzheimer’s research thanks to courageous whistleblowers like
@schrag_matthew
#sciencejournalism
@scicommexcellence
Congratulations to
@cpiller
, winner of an Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communications in the Science Journalist: Freelancer category.
@SciCommAwards
🏆
Here’s a look at his winning stories. (THREAD 🧵)
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Breaking - First major research scandal of COVID-19 era is a very painful one for all kinds of reasons: Two elite medical journals retract coronavirus papers over data integrity questions - my story:
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‘This is insane!’ Scientists lament Trump’s embrace of risky malaria drugs for coronavirus: My take on how a few words from the president based on one tiny study set off a perilous global trend
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my latest: Scientists tie third clinical trial death to experimental Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab - Amid lobbying for its approval by FDA, newly revealed death adds to doubts about safety of antiamyloid antibody
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I wonder why has Nature not yet retracted the article, many months after its editors posted a notice of concern? Why have the coauthors also stayed silent? 4/4
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Is
#prediabetes
a Dubious Diagnosis?
@CDCgov
says 1/3 of adults have it. My investigation shows prediabetes began as
@AmDiabetesAssn
marketing pitch. A borderline test result was medicalized to create tens of millions of new patients.
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Biden promised in 2016 to defund sponsors of medical experiments who flout the law the requires them to report results. Today, many are as bad as ever. Will the president now enforce the clinical trials law? My latest, for
@nytimes
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Quick action by NIH after my investigation of studies by USC's Berislav Zlokovic: Agency puts hold on $30 million trial of potential stroke drug and launches its own probe of possible misconduct | Science | AAAS
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But I reveal that leading experts now say that paper and others were based on fraud. The whole effort to expose Newmaster was launched by his former student
@Apex_Herbivore
4/6
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Warren Buffett's wealth contradictions go back a long way and well beyond his taxes. For example, my story:
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Actually, Ashe’s perplexing preprint does the opposite, as shown in this incisive analysis by
@schrag_matthew
– who detected the earlier apparent doctoring 3/4
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Correction is courageous | Scientists, like all humans, are fallible. Journals should manage corrections more efficiently to preserve and increase trust. via
@hholdenthorp
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I show that much of Newmaster’s work is characterized by episode after episode of apparent plagiarism, fabulism, and data fabrication. A weird story, yet one strangely in sync with our times. 6/6
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My new deep dive for
@sciencemagazine
– as Covid vaccines/drugs are tested in hundreds of clinical trials, FDA oversight of trials is lax, slow, secretive. Enforcement has dropped sharply for years, and fallen off the cliff under Trump.
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How does the Gates Foundation $$ influence news organizations? Important, deeply reported story by
@TimothyWSchwab
- Journalism’s Gates keepers via
@cjr
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FDA revolving door open too wide? 11 of 16
#FDA
medical examiners who worked on 28 drug approvals examined by
@sciencemagazine
, and then left the agency for new jobs, are now employed by or consult for the companies they recently regulated.
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Recently, the senior author of that paper, Karen Ashe of the Univ of Minn, posted a preprint that purports to validate many of the paper’s questioned findings 2/4
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FDA is petitioned to boost enforcement of trial sponsors that fail to register studies or report results via
@statnews
@pharmalot
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USC neuroscientist faces scrutiny following allegations of data manipulation -
@latimes
gives front-page coverage to my recent investigation for
@NewsfromScience
via
@corinnepurtill
@MelodyPetersen
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Weekend reads: Harvard sued over retracted paper; 'retraction with honor'; critiquing our fake peer review coverage via
@ivanoransky
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Among the people who worked tirelessly on the whistleblower dossier:
@schrag_matthew
@Thatsregrettab1
@MicrobiomDigest
5/5
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Trump on chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine: 'It couldn’t hurt to try." But as
@VPrasadMDMPH
and Ezekiel Emanuel point out, it often harms people and efforts to find real cure.
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BTW, now Newmaster is identifying cannabis species to help with industry quality control and works with COVID-19 testing companies. He outlandishly claimed to have been genetically sequencing SARS-CoV-2 in the summer and fall of 2019, months before the pandemic started. 5/6
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Thoughtful thread on some of the bigger picture questions on apparent image manipulation.
Brilliant article by
@cpiller
Smells like image tampering in key papers for Amyloid hypothesis
It's likely just the TIP of the 🧊berg
Think about it
We can SEE the images
For most papers, you don't 👀data
A few thoughts on science 🧵
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For anyone looking for the links to my
@sciencemagazine
stories discussed tonight by
@maddow
and
@Laurie_Garrett
– about the harm caused by privatization of COVID hospital data by Trump Admin: and
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'We are prioritizing meds that cost $100,000 a year or more (while) loosening restrictions on environmental pollution. These policies have one thing in common: they enhance corporate profits.' More insights from
@VPrasadMDMPH
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“FDA is a regulatory agency charged with protecting the public’s best interests. But at times it behaves like an attorney working on behalf of the companies.” -
@VPrasadMDMPH
in my probe of FDA's lax, slow, secretive oversight of clinical trials
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Great overview of the challenges and doubts about these two widely-discussed Covid-19 antibody studies.
NEW: Two big antibody studies in California — Santa Clara and Los Angeles County — are making waves with their estimates that there are way more coronavirus infections than we thought.
But scientists are skeptical, for LOTS of reasons. I dive into it all:
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Lecanemab patient dies of massive brain hemorrhage after a shattering and chaotic episode in the emergency department - What will Eisai and Biogen say about this second death associated with their experimental Alzheimer's treatment?
My latest: Second death linked to lecanemab - heralded potential antibody treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Heightens safety concerns
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This thread expands on a small point in my story about Steven Newmaster -- worth a look for anyone tracking Herbalife issues.
Twist in Tale
1/
2018: I publish a report showng Herbalife caused death in young woman
Early 2019:
Herbalife unleashes legal, 'scientific' hell-storm on me, co-authors, journal, threatening us
Mid 2019: Herbalife's concerns r scientifically rebutted...
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The Saga of Cassava | Science | AAAS
@Dereklowe
sums up the Wang/CUNY/simufilam controversy in the wake of my article last week in
@ScienceMagazine
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FDA might approve Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab by 1/6. Will it mandate “black box” warning that the drug+blood thinners can kill, as Eisai admitted in trial consent forms but not publicly. Skeptics: What else won't Eisai say? My story:
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Sheldon Krimsky, an intellectual hero of mine, Who Warned of Profit Motive in Science, Dies at 80. I'll never forget his generosity, integrity, and support early in my career.
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Read this thread.
@MarkSZaidEsq
has been fighting the good fight, without fear or favor, for a long time. Kinda like a good journalist does.
11/I also do or have represented many media outlets & reporters in
#FOIA
cases. They run spectrum of ideology & include:
@DailyCaller
,
@MSNBC
,
@WSJ
,
@USATODAY
,
@thedailybeast
&
@politico
.
The goal is transparency. Obtain govt documents for public to review and assess.
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Whistleblower on Wang and Cassava’s studies,
@schrag_matthew
, called CUNY report “detailed, thorough, and credible.” He says “The phase 3 simufilam clinical trials should never have started. And they should certainly be shut down on the basis of this report.” 3/3
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The 50-page report obtained by Science says Wang failed to turn over to the panel “even a single datum or notebook in response to any allegation.” CUNY says action on the report is “imminent.” 2/3
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Another important expression of concern about a study by HY Wang of CUNY and other important researchers that was tagged in the CUNY investigation I wrote about recently. My earlier story with link to CUNY investigation:
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New real-time tracker Clinical Trial tracker shows which institutions are breaking the law. First results now up. An amazing tool for anyone concerned about evidence-based medicine. From
@bengoldacre
et al at Oxford
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It's a bizarre tale of how apparent misconduct—hiding in plain sight—skewed the herbal-supplement industry. 2/6
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My latest: Clinical trial participant’s autopsy and brain exam stoke Alzheimer’s drug fears – details on a lecanemab (Leqembi) death 1/3
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The Dark Side of a Clinical Trial | Science | AAAS
@Dereklowe
offers his take on my recent investigation of work by USC's Berislav Zlokovic
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A leading neuroscience expert after viewing the apparently doctored images: “I immediately felt nauseous…The integrity of the scientific record is so fundamental to what we do that seeing this kind of data anomaly is distressing.” 4/5
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Personal news: I am now working as an investigative correspondent for
@sciencemagazine
- and am honored to stay connected to my amazing colleagues at
@statnews
as a contributing writer.
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The three scientists at the heart of the Surgisphere COVID-19 scandal each left a trail of hints. Did
@TheLancet
and
@NEJM
exercise due diligence? You be the judge.
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Newmaster pioneered using snippets of DNA to identify supplement ingredients. In 2013 he accused the industry of selling pills larded with inert fillers and tainted with toxic contaminants. Chastened, some big suppliers hired Newmaster to test their products. 3/6
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Thanks to
@megynkelly
for thoughtful, probing questions about my recent Alzheimer's investigation in
@NewsfromScience
. Also excellent comments from
@schrag_matthew
"Both of our jaws dropped at that moment. We both realized this was something of some great significance..."
@cpiller
on how investigative journalism brought doctored images of Alzheimer's research to light.
Watch & subscribe:
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Former lab members described a “toxic” lab culture & constant pressure to produce data consistent with Zlokovic’s ideas – even when experiments turned out differently. One said: “I started hating science. … It made me sick.” 3/5
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'The FDA Is Failing the American People' - some compelling opinions and dot connections from
@VPrasadMDMPH
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A Big Study About Honesty Turns Out To Be Based On Fake Data - another terrific
@stephaniemlee
story on scientific integrity
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'On the Media' interviewed me on the atrocious practices of medical researchers who fail to report the results of their clinical experiments. Thanks to
@Bobosphere
, Alex Hanesworth and
@onthemedia
for terrific questions
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Where’s the data? In a pandemic, now is no time to sit on remdesivir Covid-19 trial results via
@pharmalot
via
@statnews
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Did a Military Lab Spill Anthrax Into Public Waterways? New Book Reveals Details of a US Leak - important reporting by
@alisonannyoung
via
@kffhealthnews
1/2
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Surgisphere’s revenge? Most scholarly articles that cite those infamous, disgraced, retracted COVID-19 papers fail to note that they were retracted. With insights from
@esuelzer
@ivanoransky
My latest:
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Zlokovic, a top expert in stroke and Alzheimer’s has been a towering figure in the field. A 113-page whistleblower dossier suggests image manipulation to support his experimental hypotheses 2/5
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Double Dip: NIH program pays off $100K+++ in school debt to keep scientists in academia. Many break the rules by also taking industry money; other rules let them keep the cash without penalty. My investigation
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As someone who has written investigative stories about the Gates Foundation (as as an
@statnews
alum who deeply respects that group's journalism), I think the
@TimothyWSchwab
thread is worth reading.
1/ Months ago, I was asked to be a co-reporter on this story. I declined b/c the
#GatesFoundation
was a funder, which I knew would make it impossible to rigorously examine Gates's role in Covax. This story is a case study in the perils of Gates-funded journalism. 🧵Read on & RT:
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My latest deep dive in
@sciencemagazine
: “Failure to Protect?” Critics say “unconscionable” asthma study of mostly Black kids unethically withheld care, exploits inequalities—and they see a troubling trend.
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Hoping that our story, and this honor for it, will push the debate on how to detect and end apparent misconduct in key areas of Alzheimer's research.
Congratulations to the 2023
#NIHCM
Trade Journalism Award winner for their in-depth investigation of possible fraud in a key area of Alzheimer's research.
#NIHCMAwardsJournalism
@cpiller
@MeaganWeiland
@NewsfromScience
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Re: Steven Newmaster, something I still wonder about: Where did all the money go? He says says he never made a dime from his several companies despite millions in revenue. UG refused to release his disclosures. If anyone knows more, DM me. Thanks.
My latest deep dive for
@sciencemagazine
: Botanist Steven Newmaster won scientific fame and business success with tests that purportedly showed herbal remedies didn’t contain the ingredients on their labels. Was it all based on fraud? 1/6
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Excellent thread to see where things stand.
A lot has happened in the year since the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. Let's take a look at some numbers. (Thread.)
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Reporter prompts corrections in Nature, New York Times after researcher fails to disclose ties to Cargill - kudos to
@TimothyWSchwab
via
@ivanoransky
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Looking for the details on possible image doctoring in papers by USC neuroscientist Berislav Zlokovic? My investigation for
@newsfromscience
links to a spreadsheet that lists many PubPeer pages with images recently posted by the whistleblowers.
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Denmark to introduce sanctions for non-reporting of clinical trial results via
@TranspariMED
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I hope the FDA Advisory Committee on lecanemab/Leqembi will get a close look at this thread, with its profound video of a case of severe brain bleeding associated with the drug.
I want to show you what microhemorrhages and brain swelling from anti-amyloid immunotherapies look like under a microscope. In this severe case, many of the vessels simply disintegrated - see the bleeding and numerous aneurysms in this striking image.
#Alzheimer
#lecanemab
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Science journalists: If you plan to be in Lausanne next week for
#WCSJ2019
, consider checking out the “investigative methods for science journalism” panel I’ll be on, July 3 at 10:10am, with the illustrious
@sarahemilywild
@Newshawks
@NordbeckAnna
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New, important expression of concern about a key paper described in my recent investigation of work by USC neuroscientist Berislav Zlokovic. My earlier article is here
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NIH continues to ignore its own clinical trial reporting rules, per new GAO report
What will it take to get the agency to report reliably to ? I’ve reported on this multiple times, including 1/2
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How contradictory and strange has Buffett’s entire history in this realm been? Not very. His actions on corporate ethics, charity, tax equity, etc., were always in conflict with his saintly words, as I wrote in 2007.
#WarrenBuffett
just announced he is resigning as a trustee of
#GatesFoundation
, clearly distancing himself from an organization swimming (drowning?) in allegations of misconduct. 2 weeks ago in
@thenation
I raised questions about Buffett's continuing role
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