After 21 years at my dream job, I’m very sad to announce my early retirement from the National Institutes of Health. My life’s work has been to scientifically study how our food environment affects what we eat, and how what we eat affects our physiology. Lately, I’ve focused on unravelling the reasons why diets high in ultra-processed food are linked to epidemic proportions of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Our research leads the world on this topic.
Given recent bipartisan goals to prevent diet-related chronic diseases, and new agency leadership professing to prioritize scientific investigation of ultra-processed foods, I had hoped to expand our research program with ambitious plans to more rapidly and efficiently determine how our food is likely making Americans chronically sick.
Unfortunately, recent events have made me question whether NIH continues to be a place where I can freely conduct unbiased science. Specifically, I experienced censorship in the reporting of our research because of agency concerns that it did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives of my agency’s leadership about ultra-processed food addiction.
I was hoping this was an aberration. So, weeks ago I wrote to my agency’s leadership expressing my concerns and requested time to discuss these issues, but I never received a response. Without any reassurance there wouldn’t be continued censorship or meddling in our research, I felt compelled to accept early retirement to preserve health insurance for my family. (Resigning later in protest of any future meddling or censorship would result in losing that benefit.) Due to very tight deadlines to make this decision, I don’t yet have plans for my future career.
The NIH has been a wonderful place because it allows scientists to take risks, form unique collaborations, and do studies difficult to conduct elsewhere. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and I’m fortunate to have had such wonderful colleagues and scientific collaborators. I hope to someday return to government service and lead a research program that will continue to provide gold-standard science to make Americans healthy.
High Ground Coffee is opening soon! To celebrate you could win a coffee beverage per day for life, a $500 gift card, or a $250 gift card! Here’s how:
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Excited to share that I have been awarded a 2023 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship!! I am beyond grateful for the continuous support I’ve received from family, mentors, and friends over the years. #NSFGRFP
Bad Bunny 🫶 proud of him for the history he continues to make… had non-Spanish speakers learning Spanish just for his heavy influence in music. Mi gente mi gente. Amo a mis latinoamericanos. Cabeza en alto.
Our hearts are hurting, but Hope can be found.
The Sheffield Family funeral is tomorrow.
Thank you for your prayers and support for our team and the families directly impacted by the tragedy.