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

In a guest essay for The New York Times, Jessica Steier, DrPH, MPH, founder and CEO of Unbiased Science, examines how evidence has been used and misrepresented to perpetuate claims of a link between vaccines and autism.

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US states and medical societies chart new paths amid turmoil at CDC and ACIP

Jessica Steier, DrPH, MPH, founder and CEO of Unbiased Science, spoke to The Lancet about the significant changes taking place in US vaccine policy. Jess discusses the potential implications for childhood and adult immunisation programmes, including greater public confusion and possible barriers to vaccine access.

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RFK Jr’s pick to review Covid vaccines authored misleading research, experts say

Jessica Steier contributed expert analysis to The Guardian's examination of research produced by Retsef Levi, who was appointed to review COVID-19 vaccine safety.

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A New Interactive Tool Weighs Vaccine Risks for You

CNET explores “What’s the Risk?”, the new interactive tool developed by Unbiased Science and CIDRAP’s Vaccine Integrity Project. The article explains how the tool turns complex vaccine and disease risk statistics into clear visual comparisons, helping people understand relative frequency and severity, while highlighting the scientific sources and context behind the data.

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Foodborne illnesses: Is the US really being hit harder this year?

This article examines whether recent high-profile outbreaks of Cyclospora and Salmonella mean foodborne illness is becoming more common in the U.S. Unbiased Science founder Jessica Steier provides expert context, explaining that despite significant media attention, current Salmonella numbers are not unusual and the risk from recent outbreaks remains low for most Americans.

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Most Americans aren’t anti-vaccine. They’re uncertain — and that’s a growing public health challenge

CNBC examines the factors behind declining U.S. vaccination rates and growing uncertainty around vaccines. Unbiased Science founder and CEO Jessica Steier discusses how conflicting information, social media and political messaging can fuel vaccine hesitancy. Jess highlights the importance of listening to people’s concerns and providing clear, evidence-based information through conversations with trusted healthcare professionals.

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Tool Brings Vax vs Disease Risk Into Stark Contrast

Jessica Steier, DrPH, MPH, founder and CEO of Unbiased Science, and Izzy Brandstetter Figueroa, MPH, Director of Vaccine Science Communication, spoke to MedPage Today about a tool designed to help people put vaccine risks into meaningful context by comparing them with the risks associated with vaccine-preventable diseases and everyday activities. The coverage highlights Unbiased Science's collaboration with CIDRAP to improve access to clear, evidence-based vaccine information.

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Panel discussion on Beauty from within and holistic trends

This Agro Food Industry panel discussion brings together experts to explore the shift towards a more holistic, science-led approach to beauty and wellness. Unbiased Science contributor and cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos joins the discussion, which examines trends including skin longevity, the gut-skin connection, women’s health, personalised solutions and the growing importance of robust clinical evidence and inclusive research.

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The Hidden Impact Of Trump's Public Health Cuts Is Starting To Appear — And Experts Say This Is Only The Beginning

Jessica Steier, DrPH, MPH, founder and CEO of Unbiased Science, talks to HuffPost about the public-health infrastructure behind the response to the Cyclospora outbreak. Jess highlights longstanding resource and budget pressures affecting the FDA's food-safety work and explains why these constraints are particularly relevant to effective traceback and produce safety.

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Public Health Experts Say the Record Cyclospora Outbreak Exposed a Communications Failure, Not an Investigative One

Medical Daily reports on an analysis by Jessica Steier, DrPH, MPH, public-health scientist and founder of Unbiased Science, examining the communication surrounding the US Cyclospora outbreak. Jess distinguishes between the effectiveness of the underlying investigation and shortcomings in how information was communicated to the public, highlighting the importance of clear and timely communication alongside successful outbreak detection and traceback.

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Has the cyclospora outbreak impacted berries? What parents of berry-aged children need to know

Jessica Steier, public-health scientist and founder of Unbiased Science, spoke to The 19th about uncertainty surrounding the Cyclospora outbreak and what the available evidence means for families. Jess discusses why the risk remains low for most people while greater caution may be appropriate for those who are immunocompromised, and explains how the age profile of reported cases can provide epidemiologists with useful clues about the potential food source.

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How often to clean and disinfect baby items, according to new guidelines

Jessica Steier, DrPH, MPH, founder and CEO of Unbiased Science, provided expert guidance to The Washington Post on maintaining a safe and hygienic home with a new baby. Jess helps explain the practical differences between cleaning, sanitising, disinfecting and sterilising, and when these different approaches are appropriate around infants.

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