The Dose In an Era of Misinformation, Does Science Stand a Chance? (feat. Dr. Francis Collins)
Oct 10, 2025
Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health and leader of the Human Genome Project, discusses the state of science amidst rampant misinformation. He emphasizes the importance of trust in science for societal cooperation. Collins shares insights on the challenges in translating research into medical care and advocates for including genomic data in medical records. He highlights the transformative potential of genomics in cancer care and personalized medicine, while calling for better digital literacy to combat misinformation.
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Leaving NIH Under Restriction
- Francis Collins described feeling unwelcome and restricted at NIH after January 20th, which led him to leave on February 28th.
- He felt compelled to find ways to support medical research outside his former role.
Use Short Patient Videos to Build Support
- Build a short, punchy video story bank of patients whose lives were saved by medical research.
- Use influencers and one-minute clips to humanize research and reach broader audiences.
Genome Data Ready For Clinical Use
- Genomic data could transform routine care if everyone's genome were in their medical record.
- Cost is low now (~$200) but system, privacy, and reimbursement barriers slow adoption.
