a16z Podcast America's Autism Crisis and How AI Can Fix Science with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya
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Sep 23, 2025 
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the NIH and former Stanford professor, discusses critical topics around public health. He unveils a $50 million autism initiative and highlights the importance of replication in science. Bhattacharya calls for a Silicon Valley approach to NIH funding, urging support for bold ideas and academic freedom. He addresses rebuilding public trust in health authorities post-pandemic and shares insights on integrating AI into drug discovery and clinical practices. His advice for future scientists emphasizes persistence and innovation.
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Major Autism Data Science Push
- Jay Bhattacharya launched a $50M autism data science initiative funding 13 teams from 250 applicants.
- The initiative pairs research with policy changes to increase access to promising treatments like leucovorin.
Prudent Use Of Existing Drugs
- Use leucovorin (folinic acid) selectively for autistic kids with brain folate processing issues, not universally.
- Mothers should use acetaminophen in pregnancy only prudently and for high fevers until guidelines update.
Replication As Science's Gold Standard
- Replication must be the standard for truth in science, not mere publication prestige.
- Independent teams should reproduce findings before broad clinical or policy action.