What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental HealthSara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
May 26, 2023
Nerdy Girls Live 05/26/23
Data and Metrics Health Policy Videos
Those Nerdy Girls present the facts, bust myths, and discuss solutions to the gun violence crisis in America. Hosted by: – Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH: Contributing Writer at TNG, co-Founder of Critica & Author of Denying to the Grave – Chana Davis, PhD: TNG Contributing Writer & Founder of Fueled by Science ➡️ Hello and Read more…
May 24, 2023
What is gun violence, and who does it affect?
Data and Metrics Health Policy
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Gun violence has become an alarming public health crisis in the United States. Its toll goes well beyond the thousands of lives lost each year. It devastates families and communities. It threatens our sense of safety and security. In a series on gun violence as a public health issue, we explain the different types of Read more…
April 28, 2023
Hey, NYC Rats! Who’s in charge now?
Health Policy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
TL, DR; NYC recently appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city’s first Rat Czar, who will be implementing a wide range of new strategies to mitigate the city’s unfortunate rodent problem. Kudos to Ms. Corradi! Rattus norvegicus first landed in NYC over 250 years ago and their populations have flourished. Millions of brown rats have thoroughly Read more…
February 7, 2023
Why do Those Nerdy Girls use phrases like “people with cervices” and “people who lactate” in your reproductive health posts? Why not just say “women”?
Health Policy Reproductive Health Social and Racial Justice
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL;DR: Our phrases include more people. When we exclude people by not naming them, they may lack access to critical information they need to make potentially life-saving decisions. We are science communicators. We take complicated scientific research and medical recommendations and try to make them easily digestible to our readers. As scientists, we must be Read more…
June 30, 2022
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
General Health Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
April 1, 2022
What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time?
Health Policy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
Q: What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? A: TL; DR. Permanent Standard Time is best for our sleep and circadian biology, which is fundamental to overall health and well-being. Sleep and circadian scientists advocate for ending the twice annual shifting of the clock. However, rather than switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time Read more…
March 29, 2022
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
December 29, 2021
Is the new CDC isolation policy good or bad?
Health Policy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying SafeHarm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
Nerdy Girls Live 05/26/23
Data and Metrics Health Policy VideosThose Nerdy Girls present the facts, bust myths, and discuss solutions to the gun violence crisis in America. Hosted by: – Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH: Contributing Writer at TNG, co-Founder of Critica & Author of Denying to the Grave – Chana Davis, PhD: TNG Contributing Writer & Founder of Fueled by Science ➡️ Hello and Read more…
What is gun violence, and who does it affect?
Data and Metrics Health PolicyMK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Gun violence has become an alarming public health crisis in the United States. Its toll goes well beyond the thousands of lives lost each year. It devastates families and communities. It threatens our sense of safety and security. In a series on gun violence as a public health issue, we explain the different types of Read more…
April 28, 2023
Hey, NYC Rats! Who’s in charge now?
Health Policy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
TL, DR; NYC recently appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city’s first Rat Czar, who will be implementing a wide range of new strategies to mitigate the city’s unfortunate rodent problem. Kudos to Ms. Corradi! Rattus norvegicus first landed in NYC over 250 years ago and their populations have flourished. Millions of brown rats have thoroughly Read more…
February 7, 2023
Why do Those Nerdy Girls use phrases like “people with cervices” and “people who lactate” in your reproductive health posts? Why not just say “women”?
Health Policy Reproductive Health Social and Racial Justice
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL;DR: Our phrases include more people. When we exclude people by not naming them, they may lack access to critical information they need to make potentially life-saving decisions. We are science communicators. We take complicated scientific research and medical recommendations and try to make them easily digestible to our readers. As scientists, we must be Read more…
June 30, 2022
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
General Health Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
April 1, 2022
What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time?
Health Policy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
Q: What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? A: TL; DR. Permanent Standard Time is best for our sleep and circadian biology, which is fundamental to overall health and well-being. Sleep and circadian scientists advocate for ending the twice annual shifting of the clock. However, rather than switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time Read more…
March 29, 2022
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
December 29, 2021
Is the new CDC isolation policy good or bad?
Health Policy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…
Gun violence has become an alarming public health crisis in the United States. Its toll goes well beyond the thousands of lives lost each year. It devastates families and communities. It threatens our sense of safety and security. In a series on gun violence as a public health issue, we explain the different types of Read more…
Hey, NYC Rats! Who’s in charge now?
Health PolicyLauren Hale, PhD MA
TL, DR; NYC recently appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city’s first Rat Czar, who will be implementing a wide range of new strategies to mitigate the city’s unfortunate rodent problem. Kudos to Ms. Corradi! Rattus norvegicus first landed in NYC over 250 years ago and their populations have flourished. Millions of brown rats have thoroughly Read more…
February 7, 2023
Why do Those Nerdy Girls use phrases like “people with cervices” and “people who lactate” in your reproductive health posts? Why not just say “women”?
Health Policy Reproductive Health Social and Racial Justice
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL;DR: Our phrases include more people. When we exclude people by not naming them, they may lack access to critical information they need to make potentially life-saving decisions. We are science communicators. We take complicated scientific research and medical recommendations and try to make them easily digestible to our readers. As scientists, we must be Read more…
June 30, 2022
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
General Health Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
April 1, 2022
What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time?
Health Policy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
Q: What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? A: TL; DR. Permanent Standard Time is best for our sleep and circadian biology, which is fundamental to overall health and well-being. Sleep and circadian scientists advocate for ending the twice annual shifting of the clock. However, rather than switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time Read more…
March 29, 2022
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
December 29, 2021
Is the new CDC isolation policy good or bad?
Health Policy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…
TL, DR; NYC recently appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city’s first Rat Czar, who will be implementing a wide range of new strategies to mitigate the city’s unfortunate rodent problem. Kudos to Ms. Corradi! Rattus norvegicus first landed in NYC over 250 years ago and their populations have flourished. Millions of brown rats have thoroughly Read more…
Why do Those Nerdy Girls use phrases like “people with cervices” and “people who lactate” in your reproductive health posts? Why not just say “women”?
Health Policy Reproductive Health Social and Racial JusticeMK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
TL;DR: Our phrases include more people. When we exclude people by not naming them, they may lack access to critical information they need to make potentially life-saving decisions. We are science communicators. We take complicated scientific research and medical recommendations and try to make them easily digestible to our readers. As scientists, we must be Read more…
June 30, 2022
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
General Health Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
April 1, 2022
What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time?
Health Policy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
Q: What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? A: TL; DR. Permanent Standard Time is best for our sleep and circadian biology, which is fundamental to overall health and well-being. Sleep and circadian scientists advocate for ending the twice annual shifting of the clock. However, rather than switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time Read more…
March 29, 2022
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
December 29, 2021
Is the new CDC isolation policy good or bad?
Health Policy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…
TL;DR: Our phrases include more people. When we exclude people by not naming them, they may lack access to critical information they need to make potentially life-saving decisions. We are science communicators. We take complicated scientific research and medical recommendations and try to make them easily digestible to our readers. As scientists, we must be Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
General Health Health Policy Social and Racial JusticeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
April 1, 2022
What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time?
Health Policy
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
Q: What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? A: TL; DR. Permanent Standard Time is best for our sleep and circadian biology, which is fundamental to overall health and well-being. Sleep and circadian scientists advocate for ending the twice annual shifting of the clock. However, rather than switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time Read more…
March 29, 2022
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
December 29, 2021
Is the new CDC isolation policy good or bad?
Health Policy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time?
Health PolicyLauren Hale, PhD MA
Q: What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? A: TL; DR. Permanent Standard Time is best for our sleep and circadian biology, which is fundamental to overall health and well-being. Sleep and circadian scientists advocate for ending the twice annual shifting of the clock. However, rather than switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time Read more…
March 29, 2022
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
December 29, 2021
Is the new CDC isolation policy good or bad?
Health Policy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…
Q: What does the science say about Daylight Saving Time? A: TL; DR. Permanent Standard Time is best for our sleep and circadian biology, which is fundamental to overall health and well-being. Sleep and circadian scientists advocate for ending the twice annual shifting of the clock. However, rather than switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time Read more…
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
December 29, 2021
Is the new CDC isolation policy good or bad?
Health Policy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
Is the new CDC isolation policy good or bad?
Health PolicyLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…
A: There are no easy answers, only tough tradeoffs. Read below to learn how to stay calm and think on. 💥Think Like a Health Policy Nerd: A New Occasional Series💥 Pandemic policy chatter is a bit like an epidemic curve. A controversial health policy decision lands. It’s met with loud cheers by some and louder Read more…