Uncommon Knowledge

Dr. Jay Goes to Washington: Reforming Science from the Inside at NIH | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution

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May 28, 2025
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, former Stanford professor and newly appointed director of the National Institutes of Health, delves into significant reforms needed in American science. He unveils the issues plaguing public health institutions, such as the replication crisis and chronic disease management. Bhattacharya emphasizes transparency, innovation, and restoring public trust in science. He discusses politics around research funding and advocates for better vaccine evaluation standards while warning about the risks of gain-of-function research, marking his transition from critic to reformer.
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ANECDOTE

Early COVID Study Success

  • In March 2020, Jay Bhattacharya led a small-funded study revealing COVID-19 was more infectious but less lethal than previously thought.
  • This study exposed public health failures to conduct early widespread testing by major institutions like NIH and CDC.
INSIGHT

Replication is Science's True Test

  • Peer-reviewed publication does not guarantee scientific truth but only passage through review without replication.
  • True scientific validity comes from independent replication by multiple research teams.
ADVICE

Incentivize and Honor Replication

  • Incentivize replication by awarding grants and creating high-profile journals to publish replication studies.
  • Promote a culture where replication is an honor rather than a threat to scientific reputations.
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