Catherine Offord

Barcelona

Contributor at The Scientist

Journalist at Freelance

Journalist writing about life science, policy, and research integrity. Correspondent for Science magazine.

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Articles

Researchers question reliability of Abbott’s rapid malaria tests

1 month ago | science.org | Catherine Offord

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent an internal memo about potential problems with a major company’s malaria tests after scientists reported issues with test sensitivity and warned it could delay patients’ access to critical treatment. Abbott’s Bioline rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria are used by health workers around the world, particularly in remote areas where lab techniques such as microscopy and DNA detection aren’t available.
Trump administration targets academic journals with attorney letter, proposed funding cuts

2 months ago | science.org | Catherine Offord

Are scientific and medical journals the latest target of efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to reshape U.S. research? The Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia has sent multiple journal editors letters asserting their publications are “partisans in various scientific debates” and asking for responses to a variety of questions.
Elusive stem cells discovered in human retina may lead to treatment for blindness

Mar 27, 2025 | science.org | Catherine Offord

In work that could revive debates about the use of fetal tissue in research, scientists say they have found a long–sought-after population of stem cells in the retina of human fetuses that could be used to develop therapies for one of the leading causes of blindness.
Child malnutrition set to soar as U.S. and other countries slash foreign aid

Mar 26, 2025 | science.org | Catherine Offord

Reductions in international aid funding to fight severe malnutrition in children under 5 could lead to 369,000 additional deaths each year, a consortium of experts in nutrition and food systems has warned. Their report, published today as a Comment in Nature that did not undergo peer review, finds that shrinking budgets could cut off treatment for 2.3 million severely malnourished young children worldwide.
Overseas universities see opportunity in U.S. ‘brain drain’

Mar 17, 2025 | science.org | Catherine Offord

When Emma saw a posting for a faculty position in the University of Mississippi’s School of Pharmacy late last year, she thought she’d found her dream job. The early-career chemist, who asked not to use her real name so as not to jeopardize her current role, had already moved from Europe to the United States and was committed to staying. But by the time she’d cleared the application process and was negotiating for equipment and personnel, she started to have major reservations.
Supreme Court upholds lower court’s order to ‘unfreeze’ $2 billion in foreign aid

Mar 5, 2025 | science.org | Catherine Offord

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld an earlier court order from a federal judge instructing the government to release nearly $2 billion in foreign aid by the end of 26 February. The ruling was decided by a vote of five to four and marks a win for organizations providing global humanitarian assistance. But it’s unclear whether, or how, the money might be disbursed, with the deadline now passed and many of the organizations already told that their funding has been terminated.
Sticker shock: New U.S. tariffs could raise cost of research equipment and supplies

Mar 4, 2025 | science.org | Catherine Offord

The tariffs imposed today by the United States on its three largest trading partners could not only drive up the cost of goods for U.S. consumers, but also hit researchers by raising prices for scientific equipment. Saying it wants to reduce trade practices it sees as unfair and stem the cross-border flow of migrants and illegal drugs, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, and hiked tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%.
Researchers face impossible decisions as U.S. aid freeze halts clinical trials

Feb 13, 2025 | science.org | Catherine Offord

In January, clinics in Uganda and Zambia were selecting people living with HIV to take part in a phase 1 trial of an experimental vaccine. But the project, meant to inform new ways to protect uninfected people from the virus, was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Within days of taking office, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed a 90-day freeze on USAID funding and work.
New journal co-founded by NIH nominee raises eyebrows, misinformation fears

Feb 7, 2025 | science.org | Catherine Offord

A new journal co-founded by President Donald Trump’s pick to direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says it will “promote open and transparent scientific discourse” but is drawing controversy within mere days of its launch.
Giant study questions link between autism and maternal health

Jan 31, 2025 | science.org | Catherine Offord

In scientists’ search to understand the causes of autism, a spotlight has fallen on maternal health during pregnancy. Based partly on association studies, researchers have proposed that conditions including obesity and depression during pregnancy could lead to autism in a child by affecting fetal neurodevelopment. But a study of more than 1 million Danish children and their families, published today in Nature Medicine, pushes back against this view.