Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Heads up: I'll be away the weeks of 9/21 and 9/28. I trust that my sharp C&EN colleagues will capably handle anything that comes up in my absence. I return 10/5, so if you need something from me specifically, I'd reach out or re-up then! 001
Reposted by Rowan WalrathBri Barbu @bribarbu.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Very very cool interactive data story from some of C&EN's finest! 121
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLaurel Oldach @laureloldach.bsky.social · 01/09/2026At the end of this comprehensive story by @rowanwalrath.bsky.social and Shea Murphy, you can play with several data dimensions to see which US city ranks highest in factors that matter to you. (You also have to scroll to find the global cities - they're there!) cen.acs.org/business/inv...cen.acs.orgCities of chemistryC&EN explores which cities have the ingredients for chemical innovation 011
Reposted by Rowan WalrathRowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 01/09/2026The coolest part, IMO, is this "build your own city ranking" tool. You can use sliders to adjust how much weight you'd give to one dimension, like VC funding or lab space, and see what cities come out on top. 102
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 01/09/2026What are the most important ingredients for chemical innovation? For @cenmag.bsky.social, my colleague Shea Murphy and I sought to find out. 🧵 116
Reposted by Rowan WalrathCarl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 26/08/2026Nature honors Dolly Parton's scientific legacy. www.nature.com/articles/d41...nature.comDolly Parton dies aged 80 – researchers celebrate her contributions to scienceThe country singer was an advocate for vaccines, public health, literacy and marginalized communities. 3737272
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Biopharmaceutical executives and investors are cautiously hopeful that President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to head the US Food and Drug Administration will bring some much-needed stability to the agency. @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/policy/regul...cen.acs.orgDrug industry leaders size up Trump’s FDA commissioner nomineeWhite House aide Heidi Overton has been tapped to lead the agency after a tumultuous period 101
Reposted by Rowan WalrathEric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Severe Covid leads to persistent viral reactivation, with >10 different viruses noted in the first 40 days after hospital admission. Long Covid was specifically associated with reactivation of latent Anelloviridae virus @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...nature.comVirus reactivation in acute and long COVID-19 - NatureChronic reactivation of distinct herpesviruses and anelloviruses occur during acute and long COVID-19, and track with disease severity, inflammation and outcomes, revealing immune signatures with prog... 9444210
Reposted by Rowan WalrathMiles W. Griffis @mileswgriffis.bsky.social · 20/07/2026""We’re interested in FcRn inhibitors as a treatment option for a subset of folks with Long COVID...” Putrino [said]." A great story on Vyvgart and Ampligen, and the challenges of study design for Long COVID, POTS, and ME by @rowanwalrath.bsky.social cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...cen.acs.orgAccess to potential long COVID drugs dwindles as trials falterTwo sets of studies for COVID-driven conditions show the struggles of drug development 1136
Reposted by Rowan WalrathChemjobber @chemjobber.bsky.social · 20/07/2026#chemsky thread on long COVID therapies 163
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLaura Howes @laurahowes.bsky.social · 20/07/2026A complicated disease, competing corporate and scientific priorities, and regulatory catch-22s. Please read the results of @rowanwalrath.bsky.social 's reporting as she's tried to better understand the state of drug development for long COVID and related conditions 033
Reposted by Rowan WalrathJulia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Really good story from @rowanwalrath.bsky.social on the desperation of patients with debilitating chronic illness symptoms for drugs that may give them relief and the lack of transparency to patients of why some trials stop. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...cen.acs.orgAccess to potential long COVID drugs dwindles as trials falterTwo sets of studies for COVID-driven conditions show the struggles of drug development 1248
Reposted by Rowan WalrathGreg Folkers @gregfolkers.bsky.social · 20/07/2026 C&EN: Access to potential long COVID drugs dwindles as trials falter by Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social @cenmag.bsky.social bit.ly/4psZxH7 011
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 20/07/2026In the picture on her GoFundMe page, Mia Delli Gatti looks bright and cheerful. She sticks out her tongue and curls her left hand into a “rock on” symbol. The sun shines through the short, dark curls that halo her face. 1/ 1134
Reposted by Rowan WalrathC&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 30/06/2026C&EN's 10 Start-Ups to Watch program is seeking nominations for promising chemistry #StartUps. Nominate a company today and help us uncover the future of innovation in chemistry. The deadline is tomorrow, July 1! Nominate here: cen.acs.org/surveys/star... #10StartUpsToWatch #chemsky 🧪 001
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Me the other night: “here, let me take a photo of the can since we liked this beer” The photo in the cold light of day: 130
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Across conversations at #BIO2026, pharma leaders made it apparent that they do not care where, geographically, a drug candidate originates, so long as it has clinical and commercial potential. Here's what Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi, J&J, Bayer, and more are looking for cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...cen.acs.orgHere’s what pharmas and investors are looking for at BIOAnd yes, China is at the forefront 000
Reposted by Rowan WalrathDan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 23/06/2026Scientific American is being sold to LabX Media, publisher of Discover: group.springernature.com/gp/group/med... They've fired me and other union staff, ahead of June 26 vote ratification. My rates are suddenly more reasonable, if you need editing or reporting - Argonaut2026@gmail.comgroup.springernature.comSpringer Nature to divest its consumer media businesses | Springer Nature Group | Springer NatureStrategic divestment of consumer media portfolio enables Springer Nature to focus on its core business Transaction supports the long-term development 93961574
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLaura Howes @laurahowes.bsky.social · 23/06/2026For all the agency chaos, some bits of the FDA are just getting on with things. Speaking to @rowanwalrath.bsky.social at this year's BIO conference, Vaxart's CEO says they've worked consistently with the same set of reviewers at the agency @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...cen.acs.org‘We’re prepared for whatever the FDA wants’: A vaccine developer gets back on trackVaxart is weeks away from a key readout from its COVID-19 vaccine-pill trial 022
Reposted by Rowan WalrathC&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 13/05/2026They’re here! Introducing the Talented 12 Class for 2026. These early-career scientists are taking on big global #chemistry challenges. Meet the 2026 Class: cen.acs.org/people/profi... #CENT12 #chemsky 🧪 01810
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLaura Howes @laurahowes.bsky.social · 13/05/2026Marty Makary resigned on Tuesday after a tumultuous year as FDA commissioner. He leaves behind a mixed legacy, as @rowanwalrath.bsky.social reports for @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/policy/regul... 154
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLaurel Oldach @laureloldach.bsky.social · 23/04/2026Really interesting to see the role the Berkeley grad student union has played in this case: cen.acs.org/research-int...cen.acs.orgUC Berkeley professor accused of sexual harassmentGraduate student union files grievance on behalf of PhD student 274
Reposted by Rowan WalrathUniversal Hub @universalhub.com · 17/04/2026BU issues Marathon advice to students: No Animal Housing in the GAP and for God's sake, stay away from parties at BC if you can't handle your liquor www.universalhub.com/2026/bu-issu... #Boston #PatriotsDay 0143
Reposted by Rowan WalrathJohn Bistline @bistline.bsky.social · 01/04/2026This is my favorite climate change chart. Japanese monks, aristocrats, and emperors kept meticulous records of cherry blossom festivals for 1,200 years and accidentally built the world's longest climate dataset. 168183476900
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 31/03/2026I'm proud to share that an article I published in @cenmag.bsky.social last February, "Long COVID studies stymied by pharma's lack of cooperation," has been selected as a finalist in the trade journalism category of the @nihcm.bsky.social Journalism Awards: 3135
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 31/03/2026Lilly's acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals is the third-largest biopharma acquisition of the year so far. $LLY $CNTA cen.acs.org/business/mer... @cenmag.bsky.socialcen.acs.orgLilly to buy narcolepsy drug developer for $6.3 billionThe pharma giant has agreed to acquire Centessa Pharmaceuticals 002
Reposted by Rowan WalrathScientific American @sciam.bsky.social · 31/03/2026Infections of the BA.3.2 variant of the COVID-causing coronavirus are still at very low levels, but experts are concerned it may be resistant to immunity from vaccines or prior infectionscientificamerican.comA new COVID variant is spreading in the U.S. How worried should you be?Infections of the BA.3.2 variant of the COVID-causing coronavirus are still at very low levels, but experts are concerned it may be resistant to immunity from vaccines or prior infection 89641
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 30/03/2026I'll be at BIO this June. Relatedly, it's so hard to imagine traveling to San Diego just to hang out in the convention center. Who wants to meet with me at the Point Loma tide pools? #biosky 010
Reposted by Rowan Walrathbetsy ladyzhets 😷 @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social · 26/03/2026RECOVER-TLC is hosting another webinar today, sharing updates on the Long COVID clinical trials program. I will do some live blogging here and might have further writing at @thesicktimes.org (if they share anything newsworthy). 35821
Reposted by Rowan WalrathNational Association of Science Writers (NASW) @sciencewriters.org · 19/03/2026New Fellowship Alert: Our colleagues at The Open Notebook are partnering with Retraction Watch to offer up to six $7,500 fellowships + training to support reporting on local issues of scientific accountability. Learn more and register for the Mar 26 informational webinar:theopennotebook.comAnnouncing the Retraction Watch Research Accountability Reporting Fellowship - The Open NotebookThe Open Notebook and Retraction Watch are thrilled to announce a new fellowship program funded by The Center for Scientific Integrity. This six-month program will equip up to six reporters and editors at local newsrooms to report stories of scientific integrity unfolding at research universities or institutions in their areas. 023
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 18/03/2026A new start-up is launching out of Shanghai with $68.7 million and a plan to tackle cancer and autoimmune diseases with T-cell-engaging antibodies. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... @cenmag.bsky.social #chemsky #bioskycen.acs.orgShanghai start-up launches to develop trispecific antibodiesExcalipoint Therapeutics has raised $68.7 million 121
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 17/03/2026Many health scientists and practitioners are breathing a sigh of relief following a court decision that effectively reversed every change to US vaccine policy made since RFK took office last February. But for many children, irreversible damage has already been done. 151
Reposted by Rowan WalrathOverheard at C&EN @censays.bsky.social · 12/03/2026In like a lamb, out like a lion, and presumably the middle is some horrible lamb/lion chimera 0123
Reposted by Rowan Walrathcenguild.bsky.social @cenguild.bsky.social · 05/03/2026The Chemical & Engineering News Guild has overwhelmingly won its union election, with 96% of participants voting in favor of unionization! @wbng.org @newsguild.org 35315
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 05/03/2026The FDA recently described a new regulatory framework that would let personalized medicines with a “plausible mechanism” of action bypass randomized clinical trials. But recent decisions about rare disease drug applications raise doubts about what the pathway means for patients. #chemsky #biosky 133
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLaurel Oldach @laureloldach.bsky.social · 04/03/2026In light of FDA's recent announcement of new regulatory flexibility for individualized medicines that work through a "plausible mechanism," @rowanwalrath.bsky.social and I dug into what the agency is saying, what it's doing, and what's at stake for ppl w/ rare diseases. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...cen.acs.orgFDA says it wants individualized medicines. Can we get there?The agency has announced a new framework for approving rare disease drugs, but investors are still skeptical 032
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLaura Howes @laurahowes.bsky.social · 04/03/2026The FDA recently announced a new regulatory framework that would let personalized medicines with a “plausible mechanism” of action bypass randomized clinical trials. For @cenmag.bsky.social, @rowanwalrath.bsky.social and @laureloldach.bsky.social dig into itcen.acs.orgFDA says it wants individualized medicines. Can we get there?The agency has announced a new framework for approving rare disease drugs, but investors are still skeptical 055
Reposted by Rowan WalrathOverheard at C&EN @censays.bsky.social · 27/02/2026I haven't solved the epistemic crisis since we last talked, unfortunately 011
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLaurel Oldach @laureloldach.bsky.social · 18/02/2026My colleagues @rowanwalrath.bsky.social and @sarahbraner.bsky.social dug into what we know about how alum and related adjuvants stimulate immunity and why MAHA regulators are going after them. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...cen.acs.orgMAHA’s next target: metals in vaccine ingredientsOfficials are going after metal-containing ingredients, including aluminum adjuvants. Here’s why vaccines need them 032
Reposted by Rowan WalrathMax Barnhart @maxhenrybarnhart.bsky.social · 30/01/2026In the past, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization practices used a detailed, scientific methodology to assess vaccine data before making a recommendation. Now that process “has completely been circumvented,” under RFK Jr. @rowanwalrath.bsky.social and I have the details for @cenmag.bsky.social.cen.acs.orgUS vaccine recommendations used to be based in science. Now it’s all vibesThe Evidence to Recommendations framework ensured that the US vaccine schedule was scientifically sound. Then RFK Jr. abandoned it 012
Reposted by Rowan WalrathCarl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 15/01/2026Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled. Story by @melodyschreiber.com www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...theguardian.comControversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease 34620
Reposted by Rowan WalrathC&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 14/01/2026C&EN’s Weekly Newsletter has evolved. Meet C&EN Elements, redesigned to deliver the essential developments in chemistry across research, industry, and policy: connect.discoveracs.org/weeklynewsle... #chemsky 🧪 3145
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 13/01/2026Discussions not deals on JPM day one: cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... @cenmag.bsky.social #chemsky #bioskycen.acs.orgDespite few big announcements at JPM, biotech investors optimisticDiscussions not deals on the first day of the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco 002
Reposted by Rowan WalrathMaggie Astor @maggieastor.bsky.social · 06/01/2026Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them 882508821
Reposted by Rowan WalrathFX Coudert @nanoporous.net · 06/01/2026Congratulations to the amazing C&EN staff! As C&EN Advisory Board member, whose mission is to “provide insight, advice, and suggestions on how to best serve our audience and the world of chemistry”, I believe this is a good step toward a stronger magazine. 082
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 06/01/2026The new CDC schedule no longer universally recommends immunizations against meningitis, hepatitis A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, COVID-19, and influenza. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...cen.acs.org6 shots removed from US childhood vaccine recommendationsSeveral immunizations now need a health-care provider’s endorsement 001
Reposted by Rowan WalrathJason @nanojason.bsky.social · 05/01/2026Long live c&en and everyone who brings us quality stories about chemistry 021
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 05/01/2026New year, new union! We’re forming @cenguild.bsky.social with @wbng.org so that everyone at C&EN—reporters, copy editors, production and operations staff, web and creative designers, multimedia producers, audience development—will have a voice in the direction of this magazine. ✊ 2185
Reposted by Rowan WalrathLeigh Krietsch Boerner @leighkboerner.bsky.social · 05/01/2026new year, new union. heck yeah 0173
Reposted by Rowan WalrathWashington-Baltimore News Guild @wbng.org · 05/01/2026New year, new unit! Workers at Chemical & Engineering News have formed a union with WBNG! Read more here: wbng.org/2026/01/05/w...wbng.orgWorkers at Chemical & Engineering News announce union campaign - Washington-Baltimore News GuildWorkers of Chemical & Engineering News, the independent magazine of the American Chemical Society, have announced the formation of the union. 072