Our Health & Science Experts in the News
Insights and opinions fresh from the team across media outlets and face to face out on the road
IN THE NEWS
The Playbook Used to ‘Prove’ Vaccines Cause Autism
A guest essay authored by Jess Steier exposing how flawed science has sustained the false link between vaccines and autism.
US states and medical societies chart new paths amid turmoil at CDC and ACIP
Amid unprecedented turmoil at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, some state governments and medical societies are parting ways with federal immunisation schedules.
RFK Jr’s pick to review Covid vaccines authored misleading research, experts say
The MIT professor who has been appointed by Robert F Kennedy Jr to review the safety of Covid-19 vaccines has failed to meet basic scientific standards in his own research on the topic, according to more than a dozen scientists and public health experts.
Anti-vax push from inside of the government
Jess Steier talks to DownTown Magazine on the subject of vaccines and says “At best, there is a part of the American population that is not anti-vax, but confused. And currently, the CDC is only adding to this confusion”.
Fast spreading measles outbreak in London
Dr. Jessica Steier, public health scientist, joins BBC News to comment on the rise of measles and in particular the outbreak in north London and to address a critical issue: misinformation remains one of the biggest contributors to declining vaccination rates — not just in the US, but worldwide.
Public access’s next frontier
In the past two decades, the scientific world has waged an extraordinary campaign for openness. As paywalls fell and repositories surged, what had once been locked away could now be read by most anyone with an internet connection.
Whole Foods, MAHA and the Battle Over Healthy Eating in America
As diet and wellness become increasingly politicized, one of the most recognizable grocery brands navigates the debate.
White House links Tylenol and autism amid mixed studies
Dr. Jessica Steier, a public health scientist, joined ABC News' Linsey Davis to react to the Trump administration's latest announcement linking Tylenol use in pregnancy to an increased risk of autism.
The consequences of sharing food and dietary misinformation
Over the past decade, there has been a lot of food misinformation and diet trends. But recently, following U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" dietary guidelines being announced, dieticians and health experts are reaching their limit. Listen to find out more about the effects of unnecessary dietary restrictions and food misinformation with Jessica B. Steier.
Food dyes and other fear factors: the erosion of public trust and how to rebuild it
From the latest obsessions of health “influencers”, to political intervention around what to safely feed children, digital channels are awash with suspect advice on what we eat. This article considers the role the agro-food industry should play in countering mis- and dis-information.
An MIT Professor criticized COVID-19 shots. His new role allows him to make recommendations about the vaccine.
He’s told us his stance on COVID vaccines," said Jess Steier, who writes the Substack “Unbiased Science.” “So he’s coming into this with very clear and well-documented bias.”
Wellness Influencers Are Good at Winning Your Trust. That May Not Be the Best Medicine
"What wellness influencers do very well is make it seem like if you do X, you will be healthier," says Jessica B. Steier, who holds a doctorate in public health, is the founder and host of Unbiased Science and executive director of the Science Literacy Lab. "It makes people feel like they have a ton of control over their health, and that's empowering."
Why American values are changing when it comes to our health
Americans’ steadfast dedication to their beliefs can be a good thing, but it can also go too far, Dr. Jessica Steier says – like when adults yell at Girl Scouts that the cookies they’re selling are “poison.”
The future of the childhood vaccine schedule
The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel is reassessing the safety and efficacy of the childhood vaccine schedule. Many of the panel’s members have expressed skepticism about vaccines or suggested unproven links between common vaccine ingredients and certain medical conditions. We talk about what’s next for early immunizations.
Acetaminophen use during pregnancy does not increase risk of autism, ADHD: Review
Using acetaminophen as directed during pregnancy does not increase a child's risk of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or intellectual disability, a major new review published Friday finds.
Trump And Kennedy Cut Children’s Access To Vaccines
The Trump administration cut the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule from 17 vaccines to 11 on Monday, its most consequential vaccine policy change to date. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control no longer recommends routinely vaccinating children against six deadly diseases: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, meningitis, RSV and rotavirus.
We wish we’d written that: STAT staffers share their favorite stories of 2025
This year saw upheaval in all corners of health, science, and biotech. While our staff was covering all of the twists and turns, they were also looking with admiration at stellar work from other journalists, including Dr Jessica Steier’s article in the The New York Times ‘The playbook used to ‘prove’ vaccines cause autism’.
Child dies, siblings hospitalized after 'alkaline diet,' parents charged
An Arizona couple faces possible prison time after parenting practices shaped by online misinformation about medical care and nutrition left a 5-month-old child dead and three others suffering from chronic malnutrition, according to police and court records.
That was the year that was. Did 2025 deliver? Pharma industry observers reflect on tech-enabled progress over the last year
Jessica Steier, a doctor of public health and CEO of Unbiased Science, laments the oversimplification in the US of complex medical topics into binary ‘good versus bad’ categories under the current political administration.
RFK Jr. says he’s following ‘gold standard’ science. Here’s what to know
The message is hammered over and over, in news conferences, hearings and executive orders: President Donald Trump and his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., say they want the government to follow “gold standard” science. This week, the nation’s top public health agency changed its website to contradict the scientific conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism. The move shocked health experts nationwide.
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ON THE ROAD
Jess delivering the keynote address at DIA’s Medical Affairs and Scientific Comms Forum in Boston, March 2025
Michelle presenting on stage at Google's AI IRL summit
Jess receiving the American Medical Writers Association Award
Dr. Jessica Steier at a recent visit to the WHITE HOUSE, convening with public health partners
Michelle as a guest interviewee with Don Davis on the Life Science Success podcast
Doing what she loves most - Jess hosting an Unbiased Science podcast episode
Jess presenting at the Crop Life America Annual Meeting, Sept 23
Michelle on stage at the Veeva conference
Jess on stage at the FFAA conference
The story of Michelle Bridenbaker on the Leadership Lab
Michelle delivering Day 2 Keynote at ArisGlobal Breakthrough 2025
Jess delivering the keynote at the APIC Spring Conference
Jess' interview with ABC news
Come and say hello at an upcoming event
virtual
March 13 2026
Vaccine Webinar for North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education
Dr Jessica Steier will present a session with the title “The Evidence Hasn’t Changed: Communicating Vaccine Science When the Landscape Has”.
Vaccine Webinar Presentation
Dr Steier will summarize the current state of vaccine safety evidence, including what the research does and does not show regarding commonly cited concerns. Identify how recent policy and institutional changes affect where and how healthcare and public health professionals access reliable vaccine information. Discuss evidence-based communication strategies to address vaccine misinformation and build trust in clinical and public health settings.
virtual
March 16 2026
Univeristy of Minnesota Guest Lecture
Dr Jessica Steier will present a session on "Public Health Communication & Social Media."
Spring semester graduate course
Dr Steier will speak at the Spring semester graduate course on the subject of “Emerging Infectious Diseases: Current Issues, Policies, and Controversies.”
Dartmouth College
March 26 2026
Dartmouth College Research Seminar
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI) at the Geisel School of Medicine hosts a seminar series to foster education and collaboration among faculty, students, and staff.
Research Seminar
Dr Jessica Steier will join as a guest presenter, to share her work with TDI and the greater Dartmouth community.
Virtual
April 6 2026
American Public Health Association National Public Health Week
Join APHA and public health leaders from across the country in this conversation about the intersections of public health and how public health can collaborate with community leaders to build trust and a strong foundation for healthy change.
National Public Health Week Forum
Dr Jessica Steier will join as a guest presenter, to talk about ‘Public health in the age of deception: Confronting the misinformation crisis’, followed by a moderated panel discussion.
Boston
April 18 2026
The American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting
Dr Jessica Steier will be speaking at the 109th annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists.
Immunology 2026
Dr Jessica Steier will join Immunology 2026 as a panellist on the subject of "Conversations that Connect: Helping the Public Understand, Trust, and Engage with Science".
Transforming Medical Affairs with AI
A comprehensive reference guide for Pharma and Biotech industries
