Brendan Borrell is a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles, California. His stories have appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Outside, National Geographic and many other publications. He is the author of “The First Shots: The Epic Rivalries and Heroic Science Behind the Race to the Coronavirus Vaccine,” and he has a Ph.D. in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Brendan Borrell
Contributing writer
From this contributor
Former Columbia University psychiatrist committed research misconduct, says federal watchdog
Bret Rutherford, whose research was halted following a suicide in a clinical trial, falsely reported participant eligibility, according to the U.S. Office of Research Integrity.
Former Columbia University psychiatrist committed research misconduct, says federal watchdog
By
Brendan Borrell, Ellie Kincaid
8 October 2024 | 3 min read
FDA describes ‘objectionable conditions’ at New York State Psychiatric Institute
The facility’s institutional review board failed to report a 2021 incident and “serious and ongoing noncompliance” by a principal investigator, according to a letter released by the federal agency this week.
FDA describes ‘objectionable conditions’ at New York State Psychiatric Institute
By
Brendan Borrell
2 April 2024 | 6 min listen
Controversial dyslexia study marred by methodological and ethical problems, researchers say
Subsequent studies have also failed to validate a range of products based on the work.
Controversial dyslexia study marred by methodological and ethical problems, researchers say
By
Brendan Borrell
27 February 2024 | 8 min read
After retractions, Alzheimer’s scientist is left cleaning up a prolific collaborator’s mess
A Michigan neuroscientist is working to correct or retract his collaborator’s findings in at least four papers, following a university investigation that has already resulted in two retractions and three corrections.
After retractions, Alzheimer’s scientist is left cleaning up a prolific collaborator’s mess
By
Brendan Borrell
9 January 2024 | 8 min read
Debate unfurls over inclusivity and authenticity in research involving minimally verbal autistic people
Autism researchers can’t agree on how far to go to validate the input they gather from minimally verbal autistic people who use certain communication devices.
Debate unfurls over inclusivity and authenticity in research involving minimally verbal autistic people
By
Brendan Borrell
25 September 2023 | 11 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
START method assembles brain’s wiring diagram by cell type
The new technique mapped the interactions of about 50 kinds of inhibitory neurons in the mouse visual cortex in finer detail than previous approaches.
START method assembles brain’s wiring diagram by cell type
The new technique mapped the interactions of about 50 kinds of inhibitory neurons in the mouse visual cortex in finer detail than previous approaches.
By
Holly Barker
31 October 2024 | 5 min read
Timing tweak turns trashed fMRI scans into treasure
Leveraging start-up “dummy scans,” which are typically discarded in imaging analyses, can shorten an experiment’s length and make data collection more efficient, a new study reveals.
Timing tweak turns trashed fMRI scans into treasure
Leveraging start-up “dummy scans,” which are typically discarded in imaging analyses, can shorten an experiment’s length and make data collection more efficient, a new study reveals.
By
Angie Voyles Askham
30 October 2024 | 6 min listen
Widely distributed brain areas sync to orchestrate decisions in rodents
Multiple brain areas synchronize their activity to help a rodent accumulate the evidence it needs to make a choice, two new studies suggest.
Widely distributed brain areas sync to orchestrate decisions in rodents
Multiple brain areas synchronize their activity to help a rodent accumulate the evidence it needs to make a choice, two new studies suggest.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
29 October 2024 | 7 min read