Having followed Prasad's evolution from strident (but not unjustified) critic of pharmaceutical research involving cancer treatments, through his branching out into the very different area of vaccine research in the setting of a deadly pandemic, and most recently to his activities within the regulatory system, I found this explanation to be insightful and convincing.
It's been personal for me. My husband, an academic heme oncologist / researcher involved in research oversight, had agreed with much of Prasad's criticism of clinical testing of cancer treatments and had even written a review of Prasad's book on the topic (MALIGNANT: How Bad Policy and Bad Evidence Harm People with Cancer, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2020). In 2021, we found ourselves on the other side of the cancer research issues as we compared a half dozen studies that my husband might be eligible to participate in as a cancer patient. I could see in real life how relevant Prasad's criticisms were. Through the next few months, we got deeper into the patient experience, and I continued after my husband's death to advocate for changes in clinical trials for cancer treatment.
My own background and interest had been more in the Public Health area, though, especially vaccines. I was alerted to Prasad's posts on the pandemic by a family member who is an antivaxxer, and I was startled by Prasad's critical attitude about the mRNA vaccines and the studies that supported their acceptance. I had been following these studies, had volunteered for a couple of vaccine clinical trials (both had been canceled before I could participate), had gotten the first available mRNA vaccine, and really could not see any reason to object to the recommendations for widespread use of the mRNA vaccines.
Loved, "Vinay Prasad turned out to be Vinay Prasad." He did not dumb down to their level. How dare they expect he would? The trouble with this administration is they expect all of us to dumb down. I like to hope that most of us have wised up, even those who voted for this insanity.
Who said the Trump administration is interested in governing. They are more interested in a good TV show. Remember Apprentice?
Having followed Prasad's evolution from strident (but not unjustified) critic of pharmaceutical research involving cancer treatments, through his branching out into the very different area of vaccine research in the setting of a deadly pandemic, and most recently to his activities within the regulatory system, I found this explanation to be insightful and convincing.
It's been personal for me. My husband, an academic heme oncologist / researcher involved in research oversight, had agreed with much of Prasad's criticism of clinical testing of cancer treatments and had even written a review of Prasad's book on the topic (MALIGNANT: How Bad Policy and Bad Evidence Harm People with Cancer, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2020). In 2021, we found ourselves on the other side of the cancer research issues as we compared a half dozen studies that my husband might be eligible to participate in as a cancer patient. I could see in real life how relevant Prasad's criticisms were. Through the next few months, we got deeper into the patient experience, and I continued after my husband's death to advocate for changes in clinical trials for cancer treatment.
My own background and interest had been more in the Public Health area, though, especially vaccines. I was alerted to Prasad's posts on the pandemic by a family member who is an antivaxxer, and I was startled by Prasad's critical attitude about the mRNA vaccines and the studies that supported their acceptance. I had been following these studies, had volunteered for a couple of vaccine clinical trials (both had been canceled before I could participate), had gotten the first available mRNA vaccine, and really could not see any reason to object to the recommendations for widespread use of the mRNA vaccines.
Loved, "Vinay Prasad turned out to be Vinay Prasad." He did not dumb down to their level. How dare they expect he would? The trouble with this administration is they expect all of us to dumb down. I like to hope that most of us have wised up, even those who voted for this insanity.