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John Travis

@john-travis.bsky.social
2.1K followers 15 following 35 posts

Science journalist (Science's managing news editor), Michigander, Detroiter, beer and biking entusiast

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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Here's our earlier report. I suspect our story made the STAT writers' head explode given what they were already working on! But kudos to their own probe. 2/ www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Exclusive: Death of girl in Chinese gene-editing trial was never made public
Parents want accountability after study went disastrously wrong, Science and Retraction Watch investigation reveals
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Sadly, another tardy disclosure of a gene editing death in a Chinese clinical trial. Would the biotech have come clean without @statnews.com excellent reporting? Many parallels to our investigation 2 weeks ago 1/ www.statnews.com/2026/08/05/c...
statnews.com
Once again, child dies in gene-editing trial in China, rekindling debate on transparency and safety
With a second delayed report of a child's death in China, criticism is rising of a looser form of clinical trial. One expert: what "bothers me is the lack of transparency."
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
The entry now says: The single participant died on 31 March 2025 from thrombotic microangiopathy, a serious adverse event assessed as definitely related to the study drug. Planned follow-up was not completed, and the study was terminated. clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT068...
clinicaltrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
16 months after a young girl died in a gene-editing trial, the study's entry in clinicaltrial. gov has finally been updated to acknowledge the death. The move comes after @science.org and @retractionwatch.com revealed the fatality 1/ science.org/content/arti...
clinicaltrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
ahem, science insiders? congrats Dan!
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
A public response to our investigation into a gene-editing death www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Chinese university launches probe into girl’s gene-editing death
More than a year after failed clinical trial, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine promises “serious action”
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
It made me wonder how much we’ve actually learned from the gene therapy death of Jesse Gelsinger decades ago and the more recent scandal of He Jiankui’s gene-edited babies. 3/
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The opening illustration is heart-breaking on its own and I defy you to not have tears at the end of the story. The story also raises a host of scientific, ethical, publishing and regulatory questions. 2/ www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Exclusive: Death of girl in Chinese gene-editing trial was never made public
Parents want accountability after study went disastrously wrong, Science and Retraction Watch investigation reveals
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
@science.org and @retractionwatch.com partner on a feature today on a clinical trial death that's the saddest, and longest, science story I've edited. But it's also one of the best IMO. Beautifully written and reported by @bborrell.bsky.social We’re grateful to the parents of "Mei" 1/
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
sorry to hear that. keep us in mind for pitches and i'll let editors here know you are on the look out. good luck!
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
So sorry to hear you, Josh, Dan and the others were treated this way. Come by Science some Wednesday afternoon to chat about freelancing and for our weekly "tea" if you need some social support.
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Damnit, I knew rumors of this were circling but crushing to see it happen. Sorry Dan. We need to throw a wake and rail against the gods (SpringerNature)
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
UNC announced virologist Ralph Baric, accused of starting COVID-19, is retiring but we have the exclusive backstory--HHS wants to debar him and he's fighting it, calling BS on charges related to past work www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Virologist accused of starting COVID-19 will fight U.S. ban on funding
HHS memo says Ralph Baric had a “pattern of deception” in describing virus studies long before pandemic
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Small biotechs and other firms relying on U.S. research dollars can rejoice after Trump yesterday signed the long-stalled SBIR/STTR reauthorization package. A Senate impasse was finally broken recently. See our past @science.org story on the programs' importance www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Suspended small business research programs derail development of gene therapies, hip implants, and more
Congressional impasse has halted billions in research funding for innovative technologies
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
A forgotten social media post may hold key clues to COVID-19’s origin | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
A forgotten social media post may hold key clues to COVID-19’s origin
Analysis of Wuhan market map suggests China has not disclosed some of the earliest infections in animals and people
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Few of the things I work on at Science are purely fun, but the Dance your Ph.D contest is an exception. I'm always impressed by the creativity and enthusiasm of the entries. Graceful electrons and pole dancing analysis of pee? See this year's winners! www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
And the winner of Science’s 2026 ‘Dance Your Ph.D.’ contest is …
A physicist and professional dancer takes home the grand prize, and Science awards its first trophy for an AI-assisted dance concept
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence right? does this seem legit enough to truly consider? Is the group known?
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Here's an unlikely story that combines a fake neuroscientist, multiple lawsuits, Jeffrey Epstein, optical illusions, Nobel laureates, and the most famous picture of DNA. Another wild @science.org yarn with exclusive details from Jon Cohen www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
After bizarre journey, prized history of molecular biology archive finds new home
Science History Institute makes public multimillion-dollar collection, including Rosalind Franklin’s famous DNA image, assembled by fake scientist
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
I always like the marriage of science and art--and this story by one of our interns adds in some Peter Gabriel so there's a rock undertone. Amazing images. www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Using electrons to make art, this scientist’s biology images grace rock albums and stamps
Steve Gschmeissner’s electron microscope image of liver cholesterol won a Wellcome Photography Prize this year
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Senior biomedical reporter position open here at Science. One of the best crews in science journalism. Join us! Job details at bit.ly/44Rk8uR
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Latest scoop from my colleagues: Trump exec order on gain of function GOF work spurs NIH to suspend pathogen studies www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Exclusive: NIH suspends dozens of pathogen studies over ‘gain-of-function’ concerns
Trump executive order leads to pauses on U.S.-funded research into TB, influenza, COVID-19, and other diseases, dismaying some scientists
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
We're still puzzling over this new FDA/NIH directive. Can anyone identify what clinical trials or research the agencies might mean. Something where CAR T cells are made in china or stem cells of some type? Seems very niche if it's not obvious what it refers to. www.nih.gov/news-events/...
nih.gov
FDA halts new clinical trials that export Americans’ cells to foreign labs in hostile countries for genetic engineering
Trials failed to inform participants about the international transfer.
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Minor but real fear about proposed NIH reorganization: being forced to use the acronym NICWHSDC for a new National Institute for Child and Women's Health, Sensory Disorders and Communication.
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Alex--did you/Nature get excluded on presser too?
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Reposted by John Travis
Science Magazine @science.org · 11/04/2025
Exclusive: Kathleen Neuzil, an infectious disease and vaccine specialist who was head of the Fogarty International Center, received an e-mail notice today from the Department of Health and Human Services that immediately put her on administrative leave.
scim.ag
Chief of NIH’s international center is latest director to lose job under Trump
Kathleen Neuzil had led the Fogarty International Center for less than 1 year
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Unfortunate exclusive xenotransplant update as pig kidney fails--but patient is ok (just back on dialysis) www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Longest human transplant of pig kidney fails
In latest xenotransplant test, Towana Looney’s body rejects gene-edited organ after more than 4 months
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Just when you thought it couldn't get any...stranger (to be diplomatic). NIH firings were a mistake,,, www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
After ‘coding error’ triggers firings, top NIH scientists called back to work
Neuroscience institutes tells 10 scientists placed on leave it’s working on a “long-term” solution to officially reinstating them
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
What's some expected to be a Valentine's Day massacre is now an April Fool's one, except this is no joke: Trump administration purges leaders at NIH, FDA, and CDC amid an even greater reduction in force at the agencies. Fresh, exclusive details from my colleagues www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Trump administration purges U.S. health agency leaders
Reassignment letters come as reduction in force begins
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Any conservative/Trump-voting federal scientists who have been fired and are willing to discuss their views on that whatever they may be?--or can others suggest people in that situation we should reach out to? Contact the News from Science team www.science.org/content/page...
science.org
Got a tip?
Got a tip for Science’s news department? Our reporters would like to hear from you. Here are ways to contact us.
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Latest update: How the mass scientists firings are being justified—and appealed: “It's bad, but I'm not gonna lay down and roll over. I'm going to do my due diligence. … Got to stay positive.” Trump Tracker: Firings, lawsuits and U.S. science in chaos www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Trump Tracker: Firings, lawsuits and U.S. science in chaos
Follow President Donald Trump’s impact on U.S. research and science globally
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
If anyone has actual evidence that was the specific reason for the "retirement" please send it to us at Science. We have contact info on our site including protonmail and other options with for confidential information.
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Depending on your perspective it's a good/bad week for @science.org's news team to launch our Trump Tracker. Were recent NIH resignations voluntary? Will RFK Jr start firing scientists today? Why did a judge unfreeze U.S. foreign aid needed for clinical trials? www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Welcome to Trump Tracker
Follow President Donald Trump’s impact on U.S. research and science globally
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Federal scientist taking the Trump buyout offer? Feel free to reach out, directly to me or via Science's news tip options. We're curious about what led to your decision and what/who your department or agency may be losing. Tips on other topics welcome too! www.science.org/content/page...
science.org
Got a tip?
Got a tip for Science’s news department? Our reporters would like to hear from you. Here are ways to contact us.
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Folks are working on it!
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Proud to have you as a current friend and former colleague (at Science). See you on the bike trail and/or at the brewery!
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John Travis @john-travis.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
For my first post here I'll highlight my first feature in years and a weird biology story I have followed for decades--what's the function of odd cellular structures known as vaults? www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
This biologist aims to solve the cell’s biggest mystery. Could it help cancer patients, too?
Four decades after his lab found odd, massive particles inside cells, Leonard Rome is still determined to figure out what “vaults” do
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