Jason Ukman
@JasonUkman

Managing editor @statnews, ex @washingtonpost editor. Contactable: jason.ukman@statnews.com

 Austin, TX
Joined August 2012
1,186 Photos and videos
Jason Ukman retweeted
Matthew Herper
@matthewherper
Sep 25
The head of Kennedy’s new autism project has roots in Iraq War, Sesame Street By @rosebroderick_ statnews.com/2026/09/25/russ… via @statnews

The head of Kennedy's new autism project served in Iraq War, worked with Sesame Street

Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health is planning a total-lifespan research project on autism: A Q&A with its leader, Russell Shilling.

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Died *with* measles or died *of* measles? Died *of* Covid or *with* Covid? The issue matters. But the debate often distorts the reality, a public health scientist and a pediatrician explain. statnews.com/2026/09/25/died…

The ‘died with’ vs. ‘died of’ measles discussion misses something very important

“Arguing over whether someone died ‘with’ or ‘of’ a disease gets us stuck on the last thing that happened.” write two Unbiased Science scientists.

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Zachary Tracer@ZTracer
Sep 24
We're live with multiple reporters analyzing Dr. Heidi Overton's Senate HELP hearing to be FDA commissioner, at @statnews
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Margaret Manto
@MargaretManto
Sep 24
Heidi Overton was a young aspiring surgeon from rural New Mexico. Then the pandemic happened. Now she could become FDA commissioner. Read my full profile here: statnews.com/2026/09/24/heid…

How a young doctor rose from rural New Mexico to FDA commissioner nominee

What to know about Dr. Heidi Overton, Trump's pick to run the FDA, including her medical background and career trajectory.

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NEW: Before reporters in the White House, Trump and aides claimed every U.S. state wanted to participate in a Medicaid initiative aimed at lowering drug prices. That, @_daniel_payne reports, isn't quite right. statnews.com/2026/09/24/trum…

Trump boast on drug pricing policy overstated state-level interest in federal program

President Trump and his aides boasted that every U.S. state wanted to participate in a drug pricing initiative through Medicaid. Several states said they weren't sure yet.

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Margaret Manto
@MargaretManto
Sep 23
Exclusive: Heidi Overton plans to tell Senators that as FDA commissioner, she would focus on speeding up clinical trials to compete with China. More on her opening statement for tomorrow's hearing here: statnews.com/2026/09/23/heid…

Nominee to lead FDA aims to speed up medical research, combat China’s rise

Exclusive: Heidi Overton plans to tell senators she will speed up biomedical research, working with FDA staff.

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Tara Bannow@TaraBannow
Sep 23
A private equity owned hospital chain is converting to a nonprofit. On its face, it sounds like a good deal. But who actually benefits? Quorum's hospitals will get loaded with 30% more debt while Quorum's lenders are almost made whole. tinyurl.com/msa85h9b via @statnews

A private equity-owned hospital chain is becoming a nonprofit. Is it just a bailout for investors?

Other private equity-owned hospital chains have collapsed in recent years, so the stakes are high for Quorum.

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NEW: Drugmakers, biotech VCs show ‘reinvigorated’ interest in osteoporosis treatments. Via @ADeAngelis_bio statnews.com/2026/09/23/biot…

Drugmakers, biotech VCs show 'reinvigorated' interest in osteoporosis treatments

Medicines for osteoporosis are grabbing the attention of the pharma industry, which has been incentivized by a long-awaited regulatory change. 

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NEW: Two former FDA commissioners come out in support of the nomination of Heidi Overton to lead that agency. statnews.com/2026/09/22/heid…

Former FDA commissioners: Heidi Overton has an opportunity to strengthen the FDA

Two former FDA commissioners say Heidi Overton is the right pick in a difficult moment.

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NEW: The science on relieving cancer symptoms is clear. Why isn’t insurance paying, a survivor asks? Via @statnews statnews.com/2026/09/22/inte…

The science on relieving cancer symptoms is clear. Why isn’t insurance paying?

Research shows that integrative therapies reduce cancer-related pain, fatigue, anxiety, and nausea. Why won't insurance pay?

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Lawmakers read those reports that the OMB director wants to create a commission of political appointees to review NIH grants. Several Democrats and at least one prominent Republican aren't thrilled. Via @AnilOza16 @ChelseaCirruzzo of @statnews statnews.com/2026/09/21/trum…

Members of Congress push back on plan to create a commission of political appointees to review NIH...

Several members of Congress voiced strong opposition about a reported plan to create a panel of political appointees to sign off on NIH grants

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New from me: With the president's approval numbers down, the White House has turned to their most popular Cabinet member, RFK Jr., to boost midterm candidates. But will it work for MAHA-aligned candidates who aren't your typical Republicans? statnews.com/2026/09/21/rfk-…

Can RFK Jr. help GOP win the midterms? Iowa is a test

How one state's governor's race is a test of whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA movement has an enduring political draw.

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NEW: Reed Jobs, a prominent biotech investor (and son of another Jobs you may have heard of), calls for a doubling of the NIH budget to $100 billion. Via @statnews statnews.com/2026/09/21/nih-…

The NIH budget should be $100 billion per year

“We should be strengthening our investment in the NIH, not dismantling it,” writes Reed Jobs.

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We're pretty excited @statnews that @NicholasFlorko is going to be covering trust-in-science issues as a beat, and you should be too. Read more about the initiative here. statnews.com/2026/09/21/trus…

Skeptical about modern medicine? I know the feeling — and want to listen

"I know what it means to be searching for an explanation to what ails you, and a way to fix it," writes STAT's new trust-in-science reporter, Nicholas Florko.

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And check out his conversation with @HoganAlex here. statnews.com/2026/09/21/trus…

Why is trust in science important?

STAT's Alex Hogan sits down for an in-depth conversation with our new trust-in-science reporter, Nicholas Florko, on the latest episode of STATus Report.

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STAT
@statnews
Sep 18
STAT's cancer reporter @angRchen explains why the recently approved pancreatic cancer drug is 'basically' the biggest advancement for patients in half a century.
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For anyone who has long tracked health care or health care policy, it's hard to capture the surreal nature of this, perhaps for RFK Jr. supporters too. statnews.com/2026/09/17/rfk-…

Kennedy renews attacks on vaccines at Children’s Health Defense conference

Health secretary RFK Jr. returned to his roots in a keynote address at a conference hosted by the Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine nonprofit he helped start. 

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New: Kennedy names new members to preventive services task force, after months of vacancies. The panel will have a number of specialists, a major departure from the past. Via @ChelseaCirruzzo @cooney_liz statnews.com/2026/09/17/kenn…

Kennedy moves to revive preventive services panel with new members, after months of vacancies

The influential panel hasn't met in more than a year, after Kennedy canceled its meeting.

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Deep red bar to the right helps tell the story of the FDA under the Trump administration. Story by @MargaretManto, chart by @jaspar. statnews.com/2026/09/17/fda-…
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Think the future is just about AI? Here are some scientists growing miniature human brain-like organisms inside mice. Via @MeganMolteni @statnews statnews.com/2026/09/16/huma…

Scientists made mice with half a brain. Then they filled them with human organoids

Scientists have made mice with half a brain, then filled them with human organoids — possibly opening new avenues for research but also raising ethical issues.

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