Dana Howard
@thedanahoward.bsky.social
Assistant Professor | Bioethics and Philosophy. Views are my own and not that of my employer.
Professional website: https://sites.google.com/site/danasarahhoward/
Professional website: https://sites.google.com/site/danasarahhoward/
Reposted by Dana Howard
The FDA bypassed its typical process and overstated the science behind menopause hormone therapy, experts told me – with troubling implications for future drug decisions
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Doctors respond to ‘data-free’ decision over menopause hormone therapy: ‘It’s not true’
Physicians say FDA panel conflated two issues and made baseless claims about unproven health benefits
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
The FDA bypassed its typical process and overstated the science behind menopause hormone therapy, experts told me – with troubling implications for future drug decisions
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Dana Howard
“You are taking the decision away from the reviewers, and you’re putting it in the hands of the political leaders of FDA,” Fernandez Lynch said.
It doesn't take an expert to understand how bad this is. More great reporting from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
It doesn't take an expert to understand how bad this is. More great reporting from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
FDA review staff was excluded from voting on whether to approve first priority voucher drug
Top officials like Vinay Prasad and George Tidmarsh voted on the drug, a major break from the FDA's typical practice.
www.statnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
“You are taking the decision away from the reviewers, and you’re putting it in the hands of the political leaders of FDA,” Fernandez Lynch said.
It doesn't take an expert to understand how bad this is. More great reporting from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
It doesn't take an expert to understand how bad this is. More great reporting from @lizzylawrence.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
Reposted by Dana Howard
November 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“At a panel discussion about psychedelics as medical treatments, investor Christian Angermayer urged attendees to “follow the science” about the drugs — eliciting audible groans from several audience members.”
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
“At a panel discussion about psychedelics as medical treatments, investor Christian Angermayer urged attendees to “follow the science” about the drugs — eliciting audible groans from several audience members.”
“Exclusive: FDA review staff was excluded from voting on whether to approve first priority voucher drug. In a major departure from the FDA's typical practice, politically appointed top agency officials voted on whether to approve the first product from a drug rather than the FDA review staff.”
Every day it's something new. Another terrible precedent in the ongoing politicization of the FDA.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
November 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
“Exclusive: FDA review staff was excluded from voting on whether to approve first priority voucher drug. In a major departure from the FDA's typical practice, politically appointed top agency officials voted on whether to approve the first product from a drug rather than the FDA review staff.”
Reposted by Dana Howard
FDA delays left recalled ByHeart baby formula on store shelves, food safety expert tells Healthbeat. Nearly a week was lost clearing bureaucratic hurdles before all state and local food safety officials were told where formula was being sold. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/22/b... #IDsky #Medsky
FDA delays left recalled baby formula on store shelves, food safety expert says
The leader of the Association of Food and Drug Officials told Healthbeat that the FDA has been slow to share distribution lists for recalled ByHeart formula. “I’m not sure they recognize the sense of ...
www.healthbeat.org
November 22, 2025 at 1:12 AM
FDA delays left recalled ByHeart baby formula on store shelves, food safety expert tells Healthbeat. Nearly a week was lost clearing bureaucratic hurdles before all state and local food safety officials were told where formula was being sold. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/22/b... #IDsky #Medsky
Reposted by Dana Howard
“The new version reveals that many of the authors and reviewers have been outspoken critics of gender-affirming care, are affiliated with anti-LGBTQ+ groups, and have little-to-no experience providing clinical care for young trans people.”
HHS names authors and releases peer review comments for gender dysphoria report www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/h... via @statnews.com
HHS names authors and releases peer review comments for gender dysphoria report
The new report reveals that many of the authors and reviewers have been outspoken critics of gender-affirming care and belong to anti-LGBTQ+ groups
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:10 AM
“The new version reveals that many of the authors and reviewers have been outspoken critics of gender-affirming care, are affiliated with anti-LGBTQ+ groups, and have little-to-no experience providing clinical care for young trans people.”
Reposted by Dana Howard
RFK Jr had committed to Bill Cassidy, as a condition to win his vote, that he would keep website language.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
November 20, 2025 at 2:42 AM
RFK Jr had committed to Bill Cassidy, as a condition to win his vote, that he would keep website language.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Reposted by Dana Howard
Once again, sharing our groundbreaking paper. We did a lot of good work to forward the practice of #IDSov but it's incomplete and we need to be allowed to finish so that we can all move forward together and be competitive on the Global Tech and Science playing field. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A Tribal data repository to advance Indigenous health and sovereignty - Nature Genetics
We present the first federally funded Tribal data repository — the Data for Indigenous Implementations, Interventions, and Innovations Tribal Data Repository. This repository takes a revolutionary app...
www.nature.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Once again, sharing our groundbreaking paper. We did a lot of good work to forward the practice of #IDSov but it's incomplete and we need to be allowed to finish so that we can all move forward together and be competitive on the Global Tech and Science playing field. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
“More than 90 doctors were involved in Walker’s care, but not one offered her the option to end her pregnancy, according to medical records.”
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“More than 90 doctors were involved in Walker’s care, but not one offered her the option to end her pregnancy, according to medical records.”
Reposted by Dana Howard
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
Pay attention to this bill Ohioans:
A new Ohio bill would remove a requirement that the hepatitis B vaccine be administered to children attending child care or preschools. It would also bar schools from keeping out unvaccinated students if outbreaks of any disease occur.
Ohio bill would remove hep B from required preschool vaccines, emphasize right to vaccine exemptions • Ohio Capital Journal
A new Ohio bill would remove a requirement that the hepatitis B vaccine be administered to children attending child care or preschool. It would also bar schools from keeping out unvaccinated students ...
ohiocapitaljournal.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Pay attention to this bill Ohioans:
Reposted by Dana Howard
Take action now and tell the Ohio House that students deserve facts not propaganda in our schools!
House Bill 485 is passed along party lines. The bill could hit the House floor tomorrow.
Contact your member of the Ohio House to demand they oppose this assault on school children: abortionforward.org/propaganda/
Contact your member of the Ohio House to demand they oppose this assault on school children: abortionforward.org/propaganda/
Stop anti-abortion propaganda in schools - Abortion Forward
abortionforward.org
November 18, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Take action now and tell the Ohio House that students deserve facts not propaganda in our schools!
informative article with this hopeful kernel from @greerdonley.bsky.social :“Mifepristone manufacturer Danco Laboratories last year confirmed ongoing efforts to add miscarriage management as an approved use to its drug label. Were that to happen, it could be a game changer for access.”
A shift in mifepristone regulation could dramatically change abortion access throughout the country, and health advocates and litigators are closely watching how the FDA justifies any changes.
By @sofiaresnick.bsky.social / @statesnewsroom.com
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fdas...
By @sofiaresnick.bsky.social / @statesnewsroom.com
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fdas...
FDA’s abortion-pill safety review under growing scrutiny
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is facing increasing pressure from abortion opponents and advocates over how it regulates a drug that has become central to abortion access since Roe v. Wade was ...
www.newsfromthestates.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:28 PM
informative article with this hopeful kernel from @greerdonley.bsky.social :“Mifepristone manufacturer Danco Laboratories last year confirmed ongoing efforts to add miscarriage management as an approved use to its drug label. Were that to happen, it could be a game changer for access.”
Reposted by Dana Howard
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is facing increasing pressure from abortion opponents and advocates over how it regulates a drug that has become central to abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned three years ago, reports @sofiaresnick.bsky.social.
FDA’s abortion-pill safety review under growing scrutiny • West Virginia Watch
The FDA is facing increasing pressure from abortion opponents and advocates over how it regulates abortion medication.
westvirginiawatch.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is facing increasing pressure from abortion opponents and advocates over how it regulates a drug that has become central to abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned three years ago, reports @sofiaresnick.bsky.social.
Reposted by Dana Howard
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Reposted by Dana Howard
Here's fresh and happy news just out today! NativeBio was a late and junior partner but very happy to be part of this important work.
nni.arizona.edu/news/u-nyu-a...
nni.arizona.edu/news/u-nyu-a...
U of A, NYU and Harvard experts lead process to codify world’s first global standard on Indigenous Peoples’ data
nni.arizona.edu
November 18, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Here's fresh and happy news just out today! NativeBio was a late and junior partner but very happy to be part of this important work.
nni.arizona.edu/news/u-nyu-a...
nni.arizona.edu/news/u-nyu-a...
Reposted by Dana Howard
Reposted by Dana Howard
you can show your support for us by signing this pledge.
without workers, there is no library.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
without workers, there is no library.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
I Stand With CML Workers!
I stand with Columbus Metropolitan Library workers who are coming together and forming their union.
Please send me updates on how to support workers while they organize their union.
docs.google.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
you can show your support for us by signing this pledge.
without workers, there is no library.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
without workers, there is no library.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Dana Howard
Come on @harvard.edu Do what’s right by the Janitors and for the students. We work extremely hard for you. Do what’s right for us.
Harvard custodians launched a strike at 10 a.m. on Monday after union negotiations broke down on the eve of their contract’s expiration, their first strike in at least 50 years.
Hugo C. Chiasson and Amann S. Mahajan report.
Hugo C. Chiasson and Amann S. Mahajan report.
Harvard Custodians Begin Two-Day Strike for New Contract | News | The Harvard Crimson
Harvard custodians launched a strike shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday after union negotiations broke down on the eve of their contract’s expiration, their first strike in at least 50 years.
www.thecrimson.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Come on @harvard.edu Do what’s right by the Janitors and for the students. We work extremely hard for you. Do what’s right for us.
Reposted by Dana Howard
Meanwhile, even as they pay Summers hundreds of thousands of dollars, Harvard is forcing janitors to work without a contract and go on strike just to get a basic cost of living increase
Harvard custodians launched a strike at 10 a.m. on Monday after union negotiations broke down on the eve of their contract’s expiration, their first strike in at least 50 years.
Hugo C. Chiasson and Amann S. Mahajan report.
Hugo C. Chiasson and Amann S. Mahajan report.
Harvard Custodians Begin Two-Day Strike for New Contract | News | The Harvard Crimson
Harvard custodians launched a strike shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday after union negotiations broke down on the eve of their contract’s expiration, their first strike in at least 50 years.
www.thecrimson.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Meanwhile, even as they pay Summers hundreds of thousands of dollars, Harvard is forcing janitors to work without a contract and go on strike just to get a basic cost of living increase
Reposted by Dana Howard
As a concluding thought: It is a moral failure that we have the statistical power to run a RDiT on mass shootings in this country. We hope that, in some small way, this project offers insights into organizing around this issue such that this research design is no longer possible in the future.
November 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
As a concluding thought: It is a moral failure that we have the statistical power to run a RDiT on mass shootings in this country. We hope that, in some small way, this project offers insights into organizing around this issue such that this research design is no longer possible in the future.
Reposted by Dana Howard
Thorough response to Bhattacharya and Memoli's nonsense from @jeremyfaust.bsky.social and @angierasmussen.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
A rebuttal to NIH leadership's screed against pandemic preparedness.
Dr. Angela Rasmussen joins Inside Medicine for a tag-team response to a poorly reasoned essay by NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and his deputy, Dr. Matthew Memoli.
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Thorough response to Bhattacharya and Memoli's nonsense from @jeremyfaust.bsky.social and @angierasmussen.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
Reposted by Dana Howard
Between February and August 2025, 1 in 30 NIH-funded clinical trials lost grant funding, affecting over 74,000 participants, with disproportionate impact on prevention, infectious disease, and behavioral trials. ja.ma/4i4tSYx
November 17, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Between February and August 2025, 1 in 30 NIH-funded clinical trials lost grant funding, affecting over 74,000 participants, with disproportionate impact on prevention, infectious disease, and behavioral trials. ja.ma/4i4tSYx
Reposted by Dana Howard
Professional associations are key but overlooked guarantors of democratic freedom, especially when they possess consequential sanctioning authority over members.
They're the guardians of a profession's norms & ethics, as well as its independence from corrupting influences & undue external pressure
They're the guardians of a profession's norms & ethics, as well as its independence from corrupting influences & undue external pressure
I think one of the underappreciated races on “people need to run for these jobs” lists is state bar associations.
Every state should see a slate of “we are going to sanction and disbar with a VENGEANCE” candidates in the next few yrs.
(You know this is why Bondi’s bro ran for the DC Bar Assn.)
Every state should see a slate of “we are going to sanction and disbar with a VENGEANCE” candidates in the next few yrs.
(You know this is why Bondi’s bro ran for the DC Bar Assn.)
Reup: One thing EVERYONE is missing abt the two things that went down last week--Bondi bowing to Trump's demand for an investigation of Dems, and her re-ratification of the Comey indictment--is how vulnerable Bondi is, both politically and legally.
www.emptywheel.net/2025/11/16/m...
www.emptywheel.net/2025/11/16/m...
November 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Professional associations are key but overlooked guarantors of democratic freedom, especially when they possess consequential sanctioning authority over members.
They're the guardians of a profession's norms & ethics, as well as its independence from corrupting influences & undue external pressure
They're the guardians of a profession's norms & ethics, as well as its independence from corrupting influences & undue external pressure