Alexander Spinelli

Recovery from Covid-19 is filled with uncertainty. An antibody test offered me a little comfort Like millions of others who have recovered from Covid-19, I was left with a burning question: Now what?

Really wild to think that 5 years ago I wrote this story in @statnews.com! Remember antibody testing?

Recovery from Covid-19 is filled with uncertainty. An antibody test offered me a little comfort

www.statnews.com/2020/05/21/r...

If you want to read this one (or any of our other incredible plus stories from today) STAT's running a Memorial Day sale where you can get 50% off a subscription!
Learn more: marketing.statnews.com/stat-plus-md...

RFK Jr. declared war on chronic disease. First comes the battle over priorities How would you solve the chronic disease epidemic? Here's STAT's extensive new data analysis, and nine ways to tackle the problem.

STAT has gathered and analyzed various sources of publicly available health data to establish a baseline of chronic disease in the U.S. 🧵

RFK Jr. declared war on chronic disease. First comes the battle over priorities

The story from @isabellacueto.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/k...

CRISPR is used in landmark treatment to correct genetic misspelling of a single patient In a world first, scientists used CRISPR to fix a baby's unique genetic mutation. The report offers hope for personalized treatments of rare diseases.

For the first time, scientists say they have reached into the genome of a severely ill child and rewritten the unique misspelling in his DNA.

At #STATBreakthrough, @matthewherper.bsky.social caught up with psychiatry legend and Summit attendee, Thomas Insel.

Matt asked: Will AI change psychiatry?
Insel's answer: AI will be to brain medicines as genomics has been to cancer.

“Fundamental vaccination saves millions of lives every year already, and he’s busy eroding public confidence in it,” Califf said at STAT’s Breakthrough Summit West conference on Wednesday. “I think he’s flat out wrong and doing harm to the American people.”
#STATBreakthrough

Europe unveils $565 million package to retain scientists, and attract new ones The European Commission unveiled a $565 million package to retain and attract scientists, as other countries try to leverage the dismantling of research programs in the U.S.

Oh wow!

Europe unveils $565 million package to retain scientists, and attract new ones
The effort is a bid to capitalize on the Trump administration’s dismantling of research

The story from @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/05/05/e...

Autism evaluations are being canceled over fears about a national registry Fears of landing on a federal list prompts parents, and adults, to cancel autism screening evaluations.

Well, this is a tough one.
Autism evaluations are being canceled over fears about a national registry

@rosebroderick.bsky.social has the story in @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/05/01/a...

Inside U.S. health agencies, workers confront chaos and questions as operations come unglued The Trump administration’s remaking of HHS — in a matter of weeks — is sparking basic questions about how parts of the agency and those it oversees can continue to function.

This is a must-read.

Inside U.S. health agencies, workers confront chaos and questions as operations come unglued

This was an all-hands-on-deck story from the @statnews.com staff.

www.statnews.com/2025/04/11/h...

Take a look at the size of the federal workforce to help contextualize today's news about planned layoffs at HHS.

Who is getting it right in #healthcare?

#STATBreakthrough panelists have answers.

NIH cuts halt 24-year program to prevent HIV/AIDS in adolescents and young adults NIH terminated grants for a program studying how to diagnose, treat, and prevent HIV and AIDS in adolescents and young adults.

NIH cuts halt 24-year program to prevent HIV/AIDS in adolescents and young adults

Always read @aniloza.bsky.social
Via @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/03/25/n...

Private emails show RFK Jr. making false claims about Covid-19 shots, linking vaccines to autism Kennedy's niece, a NYC physician, shares private emails, says public needs to see what she calls her uncle’s misguided views and conspiracy theories.

#Breaking: Private emails show RFK Jr. making false claims about Covid-19 shots, linking vaccines to autism

From @rickberke.bsky.social and @owermohle.bsky.social in @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/k...

U.S. records first fatal bird flu case amid growing concerns about virus The U.S. has recorded its first fatal case of H5N1 bird flu, in a person from Louisiana who contracted the virus from infected chickens and wild birds in a backyard flock.

oh boy.
U.S. records first fatal bird flu case amid growing concerns about virus
The story from @helenbranswell.bsky.social in @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/01/06/b...

U.S. records first fatal bird flu case amid growing concerns about virus The U.S. has recorded its first fatal case of H5N1 bird flu, in a person from Louisiana who contracted the virus from infected chickens and wild birds in a backyard flock.

#Breaking: U.S. records first fatal bird flu case amid growing concerns about virus

Surgeon general calls for labels warning of cancer risk on alcohol The U.S. surgeon general on Friday called for alcoholic beverages to carry labels warning of their connection to cancer, just as cigarettes do.

The U.S. surgeon general called for alcoholic beverages to carry labels warning of their connection to cancer, just as cigarettes do.

Trump’s FDA transition team takes shape with former Hahn adviser, courts top Capitol Hill aide Trump's staff is laying the groundwork to prepare for a new FDA commissioner and make their mark at the agency.

Trump's staff is laying the groundwork to prepare for a new FDA commissioner and make their mark at the agency.

Health Care's Colossus: Inside STAT's investigation of UnitedHealth The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked extraordinary public interest in the nation’s health insurance industry. Much of the outcry

STAT breaks down how UnitedHealth has turned health care into an assembly line that treats millions of patients as products to be monetized. And chronicle how the $5 trillion American health care system came to be so broken.

YouTube video by STAT Inside STAT's investigations of UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth is best known as an insurer, but they are deeply involved in many facets of the US health care system. @statnews.com has been investigating their business practices for years. In this video, the reporting team goes in depth about all they’ve learned. youtu.be/B0VJGEv5IGw?...

Gender-affirming surgery disappeared from the U.S. for decades. Now the field is fighting to keep its gains Trans patients and advocates worry politicians could claw back access to life-changing surgeries

Always read @theresagaff.bsky.social

Gender-affirming surgery disappeared from the U.S. for decades. Now the field is fighting to keep its gains

The story in @statnews.com - www.statnews.com/2024/12/23/g...

Gender-affirming surgery disappeared from the U.S. for decades. Now the field is fighting to keep its gains Trans patients and advocates worry politicians could claw back access to life-changing surgeries

Trans patients and advocates worry politicians could claw back access to life-changing surgeries

“By buying up every part of our health care system — from the largest insurer in the nation, largest network of physicians, and everything in between — UnitedHealth Group has successfully bypassed competition and funneled billions of dollars to its own subsidiaries,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told STAT in a statement. “For the sake of patients, taxpayers, and independent practices, policymakers should act to prohibit joint ownership of health insurers and their provider subsidiaries, including physicians and pharmacies.” Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) also said regulators and lawmakers must consider breaking up the company, whose conflicts of interest were exposed in a STAT investigation that found UnitedHealth’s business practices have upended competition among local medical groups, especially in places where it is also a dominant insurer. Since UnitedHealth took over two large medical groups in Ryan’s district, his office has fielded numerous complaints from constituents about impaired access to care and poor customer service. “It’s just absolutely punishing our community so this big corporation can make even more profits,” Ryan said. “It’s fucking outrageous.”

Federal and state lawmakers want to curb the increasing market power of UnitedHealth Group, with some even arguing the company needs to be broken up. Read this from Casey Ross, @tarabannow.bsky.social, @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, and me. www.statnews.com/2024/12/23/u...

Trump suggests he shares some of RFK Jr.’s concerns about childhood vaccines President-elect Trump suggested in an interview that he shares some of the concerns voiced by RFK Jr. about the safety of some childhood vaccines

Some Sunday news from @matthewherper.bsky.social in @statnews.bsky.social

President-elect Donald Trump suggested that he shares some of the concerns voiced by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the safety of some common childhood vaccines. www.statnews.com/2024/12/08/t...

UnitedHealth exec Brian Thompson is killed in 'brazen, targeted' shooting UnitedHealth Group executives were in New York City on Wednesday for their annual investor conference, which was abruptly canceled.

The @statnews.bsky.social team is all over this story. Updated less than an hour ago.

UnitedHealth exec Brian Thompson is killed in ‘brazen, targeted’ shooting www.statnews.com/2024/12/04/u...

YouTube video by STAT How compounding pharmacies can make GLP-1 weight loss drugs

So #GLP1 drugs are very popular. But when they're in shortage, companies can make compounded versions of them at a lower price. How?

Watch this video from @alexhogan.bsky.social explaining it all. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w-M...

Former Trump FDA chief is seeking to undermine RFK Jr.’s Senate confirmation Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who served in the first Trump administration, is raising concerns with Republicans about RFK Jr's. nomination to lead HHS.

Coming back from the holiday, and it looks like I missed @scottgottliebmd.bsky.social having thoughts about RFK Jr. running HHS.

@rachelcohrs.bsky.social has the story in @statnews.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2024/11/29/s...

Hey @il.ly please add: go.bsky.app/7odqGRR
Great for these starter packs:
Journalists
Science

Many thanks!

Trump’s pick to run FDA is top exec of company that provides compounded weight-loss drugs Trump’s pick to run FDA is top exec of Sesame, a company that provides compounded weight-loss drugs

ICYMI From yesterday
Trump’s pick to run FDA is top exec of company that provides compounded weight-loss drugs

Via @katiepalmer.bsky.social, @rachelcohrs.bsky.social, and John Wilkerson in @statnews.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2024/11/24/m...

Florida's surgeon general wants to stop water fluoridation. Will more states follow? Florida’s surgeon general Joseph Ladapo is recommending that communities in the state stop fluoridating their water.

#News Florida’s surgeon general Joseph Ladapo is recommending that communities in the state stop fluoridating their water. www.statnews.com/2024/11/22/f...

Why cancer advocates like me are leaving X “It’s sad to see the era of Twitter cancer communities end,” writes cancer advocate Janet Freeman-Daily.

“Like many, I’m now on Bluesky.”
Why cancer advocates like me are leaving X

Fascinating first opinion in @statnews.bsky.social. Kudos to @thekibosch.bsky.social for getting this one.

www.statnews.com/2024/11/22/t...