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.
![Headshot of Brendan Borrell.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BrendanBorrell_170x170_acf_cropped1-1.jpg)
Brendan Borrell
Contributing writer
From this contributor
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.
![Image of a red rectangle against a gray background.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FDA-letter-1200-1024x692.webp)
FDA describes ‘objectionable conditions’ at New York State Psychiatric Institute
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.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1200-dyslexia-study-methodological-ethical-problems-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Controversial dyslexia study marred by methodological and ethical problems, researchers say
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.
![Photograph of Gary Dunbar.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1200-dunbar-retraction-neuroscience-transmitter-copy-1024x683.webp)
After retractions, Alzheimer’s scientist is left cleaning up a prolific collaborator’s mess
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.
![An illustration of a hand placing letters spelling the word voice on a black board.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1200-facilitated-communication-autism.jpg)
Debate unfurls over inclusivity and authenticity in research involving minimally verbal autistic people
Exclusive: Shake-up at top psychiatric institute following suicide in clinical trial
The New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York City is undergoing an audit and a change in leadership following a suicide that occurred during one of its clinical trials.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Rutherfordreplac-1200e-1024x692.webp)
Exclusive: Shake-up at top psychiatric institute following suicide in clinical trial
Explore more from The Transmitter
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
![Research image of neurons in the fly’s ventral nerve cord.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lede-motormodules-1200-1024x692.webp)
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
![Illustration of researchers talking to laypeople amidst strands of DNA.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_Charman-1024x687.webp)
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/paincircuit-1200-1024x692.webp)
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.