Science Magazine Podcast Why it pays to scratch that itch, and science at the start of the second Trump administration
Jan 30, 2025
Dan Kaplan, a Professor of Immunology and Dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh, dives into the fascinating world of itching and scratching. He discusses how scratching may actually serve as a biological defense against pests and pathogens. The conversation unveils the intricate mechanisms at play, revealing the role of pain-sensing neurons and immune responses. Meanwhile, Jocelyn Kaiser highlights the impact of the Trump administration on major science agencies, including significant hiring freezes and challenges facing gender research funding.
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US Departure from WHO
- The U.S. is leaving the World Health Organization (WHO) for a second time under Trump's presidency.
- This departure could impact global infectious disease control and significantly reduce WHO funding, as the U.S. contributes a fifth of its budget.
NIH Freeze
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) implemented a freeze on external communications, travel, meetings, hiring, and purchasing.
- This freeze is unprecedented and disrupts essential NIH functions, including research, grant reviews, and clinical trials.
Reason for NIH Freeze
- The NIH freeze seems to have stemmed from a legal misinterpretation of the pause in communications.
- The Department of Health and Human Services lawyers broadened the communication restrictions to include almost all interactions by NIH staff with the external world.