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.
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.
Do pediatricians make large profits from vaccines?
Recently, the Texas Attorney General launched a formal investigation into what he called “unlawful financial incentives” for childhood vaccines, saying that he would “ensure that Big Pharma and Big Insurance don’t bribe medical providers to pressure parents to jab their kids.” Jess Steier was part of a six-month investigation into this exact question: Do pediatricians get rich from vaccines?
CIDRAP launches new effort to boost evidence-based vaccine information
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) today announced a new collaboration with The Evidence Collective and Unbiased Science to support and expand access to clear, evidence-based vaccine information.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES
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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
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 panelist on the subject of "Conversations that Connect: Helping the Public Understand, Trust, and Engage with Science".
Point Verde
May 4 2026
Flavors and Extract Manufactures Association (FEMA)
Dr Jessica Steier will be speaking at the Annual Leadership Conference Communications Workshop for FEMA.
FEMA Annual Leadership Conference Communications Workshop
Dr Jessica Steier will join ALC 2026 as a panelist at the Annual Leadership Conference Communications Workshop.
Virtual
May 5-6 2026
Epidemiology Community of Practice at the Massachusetts Dept of Public Health
Dr Jessica Steier will be keynote at the 2026 Mass. DPH Annual Epidemiology Conference.
2026 Mass. DPH Annual Epidemiology Conference.
Dr Jessica Steier will be the keynote speaker at the Epidemiology Conference
NYC
May 12 2026
NYU School of Global Public Health
Dr Jessica Steier will be Commencement Speaker at the NYU School of Global Public Health graduation ceremony
NYU School of Public Health graduation ceremony
Dr Jessica Steier will be the Commencement Speaker at the school’s graduation ceremony
Transforming Medical Affairs with AI
A comprehensive reference guide for Pharma and Biotech industries
