A lot of people, including me, were wondering how an IRB could ever approve this study.
The answer is that no IRB did. The person who “signed off” on approval from the only ethics board that reviewed it had resigned three years earlier. His signature was used without his knowledge.
The answer is that no IRB did. The person who “signed off” on approval from the only ethics board that reviewed it had resigned three years earlier. His signature was used without his knowledge.
This a great piece of investigative journalism. @rollingstone.com
This should be required reading for scientists and ethicists.
Ethics matter, especially in science.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
This should be required reading for scientists and ethicists.
Ethics matter, especially in science.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
New Documents Reveal a Controversial Vaccine Study's Unusual Path to CDC Approval
A new investigation has found irregularities in the ethics review of a grant to study effects of a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine in Guinea-Bissau.
www.rollingstone.com
February 21, 2026 at 2:43 AM
A lot of people, including me, were wondering how an IRB could ever approve this study.
The answer is that no IRB did. The person who “signed off” on approval from the only ethics board that reviewed it had resigned three years earlier. His signature was used without his knowledge.
The answer is that no IRB did. The person who “signed off” on approval from the only ethics board that reviewed it had resigned three years earlier. His signature was used without his knowledge.
Dismantling the Institutional Review Board (IRB), that oversees all human subjects research, is bad. Really bad.
The entire HR department at the CDC is gone. Everyone at the IRB, which makes sure studies are conducted ethically and rigorously, and the ethics office, which oversee conflicts of interest for CDC leaders and advisory committee members, were also let go.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Instability and confusion’ as CDC slashes 1,300 jobs before reinstating half
Trump administration says 700 notices were sent in error, while top CDC officer says ‘they didn’t think through what they were doing’
www.theguardian.com
October 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Dismantling the Institutional Review Board (IRB), that oversees all human subjects research, is bad. Really bad.
The fraudulent IRB signature occurred in Guinea-Bissau. Regardless, before RFK Jr., this study would have required review by a U.S.-based or U.S.-approved IRB.
But this didn’t happen—the registration for the IRB in G-B had lapsed, did not meet US requirements, and shouldn’t have been accepted.
But this didn’t happen—the registration for the IRB in G-B had lapsed, did not meet US requirements, and shouldn’t have been accepted.
February 21, 2026 at 3:17 AM
The fraudulent IRB signature occurred in Guinea-Bissau. Regardless, before RFK Jr., this study would have required review by a U.S.-based or U.S.-approved IRB.
But this didn’t happen—the registration for the IRB in G-B had lapsed, did not meet US requirements, and shouldn’t have been accepted.
But this didn’t happen—the registration for the IRB in G-B had lapsed, did not meet US requirements, and shouldn’t have been accepted.
July 31, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I’m still stuck on the part about smartwatches
But also I want to know what IRB says this is okay
But also I want to know what IRB says this is okay
We're learning more about NIH's plans for Secy Kennedy's new autism studies
NIH Director Bhattacharya says they're amassing a swath of confidential medical data to link together for first time, ranging from broader access to CMS records to smartwatch data
www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...
NIH Director Bhattacharya says they're amassing a swath of confidential medical data to link together for first time, ranging from broader access to CMS records to smartwatch data
www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...
RFK Jr.'s autism study to amass medical records of many Americans
The autism study is planning to link confidential data "with broad coverage in the U.S. population" in one place for the first time.
www.cbsnews.com
April 21, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I’m still stuck on the part about smartwatches
But also I want to know what IRB says this is okay
But also I want to know what IRB says this is okay
Northwesterns IRB email for concerns: IRBCompliance@northwestern.edu.
January 30, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Northwesterns IRB email for concerns: IRBCompliance@northwestern.edu.
also, how the hell did this study get IRB approval
July 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
also, how the hell did this study get IRB approval
I’ve reported your reply to the IRB
September 24, 2026 at 3:08 PM
I’ve reported your reply to the IRB
How the heck did this get past an IRB?
July 1, 2026 at 9:11 PM
How the heck did this get past an IRB?
Un like = une nouvelle règle IRB
January 28, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Un like = une nouvelle règle IRB
I still can't believe how the entire IRB and ethics offices are gone.
The entire HR department at the CDC is gone. Everyone at the IRB, which makes sure studies are conducted ethically and rigorously, and the ethics office, which oversee conflicts of interest for CDC leaders and advisory committee members, were also let go.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Instability and confusion’ as CDC slashes 1,300 jobs before reinstating half
Trump administration says 700 notices were sent in error, while top CDC officer says ‘they didn’t think through what they were doing’
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I still can't believe how the entire IRB and ethics offices are gone.
I'm sure the Uline IRB review is very thorough
November 5, 2024 at 12:09 AM
I'm sure the Uline IRB review is very thorough
You’ve already noted in the thread but what IRB has approved this?!
This is completely insane and unethical
This is completely insane and unethical
April 21, 2025 at 11:30 PM
You’ve already noted in the thread but what IRB has approved this?!
This is completely insane and unethical
This is completely insane and unethical
Panicking at every 5-question quiz in the CITI IRB training despite the fact that I've been doing this stuff for *years*
September 25, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Panicking at every 5-question quiz in the CITI IRB training despite the fact that I've been doing this stuff for *years*
i’m reporting you to the IRB, this is unethical treatment of human subjects (yourself)
May 3, 2025 at 5:20 AM
i’m reporting you to the IRB, this is unethical treatment of human subjects (yourself)
I’m sitting here still mumbling, “IRB. IRB? IRB?!?!”
July 2, 2026 at 1:45 AM
I’m sitting here still mumbling, “IRB. IRB? IRB?!?!”
Federal law requires an IRB approve of federal agency human subjects research, doesn't it? How does any in-house CDC research happen without an IRB?
Dismantling the Institutional Review Board (IRB), that oversees all human subjects research, is bad. Really bad.
The entire HR department at the CDC is gone. Everyone at the IRB, which makes sure studies are conducted ethically and rigorously, and the ethics office, which oversee conflicts of interest for CDC leaders and advisory committee members, were also let go.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
October 19, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Federal law requires an IRB approve of federal agency human subjects research, doesn't it? How does any in-house CDC research happen without an IRB?
how did this get past the IRB
Good Evening, “IL-9 Congressional Primary” was a 12 month sociological study conducted by Northwestern University. We are now complete with our study. Thank you for your time.
March 18, 2026 at 12:46 AM
how did this get past the IRB
Garry Ringrose there, making IRB tackle School sound like a 6 month Trappist retreat in Tibet.
March 13, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Garry Ringrose there, making IRB tackle School sound like a 6 month Trappist retreat in Tibet.
Every week Game Changer inches closer to being an actual psychological experiment needing IRB approval.
June 2, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Every week Game Changer inches closer to being an actual psychological experiment needing IRB approval.
I just had an IRB amendment approved 13 minutes after submission. One of these days I’m going to have to get the UTEP IRB office some coffee and snacks.
August 18, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I just had an IRB amendment approved 13 minutes after submission. One of these days I’m going to have to get the UTEP IRB office some coffee and snacks.
Wait, WHAT? The IRB gone. The IRB!
What an extraordinarily dangerous, harmful, unethical bunch of MAGA and MAHA lackeys we now have running US public health, healthcare, and health research; they have totally lost their moral compass (assuming they once had one?).
What an extraordinarily dangerous, harmful, unethical bunch of MAGA and MAHA lackeys we now have running US public health, healthcare, and health research; they have totally lost their moral compass (assuming they once had one?).
The entire HR department at the CDC is gone. Everyone at the IRB, which makes sure studies are conducted ethically and rigorously, and the ethics office, which oversee conflicts of interest for CDC leaders and advisory committee members, were also let go.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Instability and confusion’ as CDC slashes 1,300 jobs before reinstating half
Trump administration says 700 notices were sent in error, while top CDC officer says ‘they didn’t think through what they were doing’
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Wait, WHAT? The IRB gone. The IRB!
What an extraordinarily dangerous, harmful, unethical bunch of MAGA and MAHA lackeys we now have running US public health, healthcare, and health research; they have totally lost their moral compass (assuming they once had one?).
What an extraordinarily dangerous, harmful, unethical bunch of MAGA and MAHA lackeys we now have running US public health, healthcare, and health research; they have totally lost their moral compass (assuming they once had one?).
i think ive found that claude's opinions aligns well with that of an IRB member lol. i know an irb would reject me scraping the firehose for data
September 24, 2026 at 11:08 AM
i think ive found that claude's opinions aligns well with that of an IRB member lol. i know an irb would reject me scraping the firehose for data
I cannot believe an IRB allowed this
April 27, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I cannot believe an IRB allowed this
Some incredible IRB navigation here.
Imagine 48 hours in jail. Would it change how you see prison, or criminal justice itself?
A new study by researchers from the University of Zurich and @kofeth.bsky.social at @ethz.ch shows that firsthand incarceration can directly shift public opinion.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo0F...
A new study by researchers from the University of Zurich and @kofeth.bsky.social at @ethz.ch shows that firsthand incarceration can directly shift public opinion.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo0F...
Standing in Prisonersʼ Shoes
YouTube video by UZH Department of Economics
www.youtube.com
February 24, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Some incredible IRB navigation here.