
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Peter Robinson speaks with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a former Stanford professor and epidemiologist, and the newly appointed director of the National Institutes of Health. Once labeled a “fringe epidemiologist” by the previous administration at NIH, he now leads the world’s largest biomedical research agency and its $50 billion annual budget.
Their conversation explores the structural flaws in America’s public health institutions, including the replication crisis, the culture of scientific risk aversion, and the NIH’s growing failure to address the rise of chronic disease. Dr. Bhattacharya outlines his vision for reform—emphasizing transparency, innovation, and restoring public trust in science. He also addresses the politics of scientific funding, the need for better vaccine evaluation standards, and the rationale behind the administration’s new restrictions on gain-of-function research.
It is a candid and thoughtful discussion with a scientist now tasked with reshaping the very system he was once attacked by.
Recorded on May 21, 2025.
4.8
19151,915 ratings
Peter Robinson speaks with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a former Stanford professor and epidemiologist, and the newly appointed director of the National Institutes of Health. Once labeled a “fringe epidemiologist” by the previous administration at NIH, he now leads the world’s largest biomedical research agency and its $50 billion annual budget.
Their conversation explores the structural flaws in America’s public health institutions, including the replication crisis, the culture of scientific risk aversion, and the NIH’s growing failure to address the rise of chronic disease. Dr. Bhattacharya outlines his vision for reform—emphasizing transparency, innovation, and restoring public trust in science. He also addresses the politics of scientific funding, the need for better vaccine evaluation standards, and the rationale behind the administration’s new restrictions on gain-of-function research.
It is a candid and thoughtful discussion with a scientist now tasked with reshaping the very system he was once attacked by.
Recorded on May 21, 2025.
4,244 Listeners
617 Listeners
2,256 Listeners
686 Listeners
1,382 Listeners
982 Listeners
77 Listeners
488 Listeners
4,831 Listeners
476 Listeners
22 Listeners
32 Listeners
129 Listeners
2,829 Listeners
665 Listeners
148 Listeners
8,942 Listeners
8,600 Listeners
118 Listeners
1,056 Listeners