Welcome to Salisbury’s Take (on Science)

What’s this about?

Since the days of the Human Genome Project, scientific discoveries have dramatically changed our understanding of biology and how to apply this new knowledge to keep people healthier. Genomics paved the way for proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and a whole host of other specialties built on new technologies. (Don’t worry, you don’t need to know any of this jargon to benefit from it.)

These advances are transforming how we think about our health and the world around us. They’re also spurring new ways to treat disease. The latest cell therapies for cancer, the mRNA vaccines that were hugely successful in the Covid pandemic, and the advanced genetic tests that can identify which patients will benefit from certain treatments are all examples of medical progress that emerged from the genomic era.

Salisbury’s Take will cover some of the latest scientific research, progress in precision medicine, and related ethical and policy issues. This is not a breaking news site, nor is it a comprehensive look at biomedical news today. I’ll choose stories that I think have the greatest impact for readers and that benefit from my unique perspective as a longtime science reporter. There will be no paywall or subscription requests, and I will keep the scientific jargon to a minimum. My aim is simply to put my expertise to work to help you.

Why should you trust me?

I’m an award-winning journalist who specializes in reporting on science and medicine. I began reporting on the biotech field during the final years of the Human Genome Project, getting access to scientists leading the way in a whole new era of research. I became fascinated with the prospect of using genetic data and related information to customize patient care and, more generally, to help us lead healthier lives. I’m also concerned about potential misuse, such as through genetic discrimination or a resurgence of eugenics.

During my time as a reporter, I have written for scientific audiences, which requires getting even the most nitty-gritty technical details right, and for consumer audiences, which involves taking complex topics and distilling them down — but never dumbing them down — into something educational and helpful for non-experts.

After years of being a full-time reporter, I spent the last decade-plus as a freelancer. You can check out the articles I wrote for Techonomy, a news site geared to tech-savvy consumers. (The link will take you to Worth magazine’s website, which now hosts Techonomy content.)

When I’m not reporting, I work as a communications consultant to life science tools companies, diagnostic developers, nonprofit organizations, and professional scientific societies. I avoid conflicts of interest and will never write articles designed to benefit my clients. If there’s ever a gray area, I’ll disclose that to my readers.

What should you expect from Salisbury’s Take?

I aim to post a couple of times a month, so check back often or sign up to get stories emailed to you when they’re posted. I also hope to hear from readers about the topics of interest to you. If you have an idea for a story you’d like to see, or a question you have about biomedical news or related fields, reach out.

What’s with the name?

Well, my last name is Salisbury, and this publication is my take on the news. But I’m also someone who has been subjected to a lifetime of jokes about Salisbury steak, so I figure if you can’t beat ’em …

 OK, that’s enough of an introduction. Let’s go!