ADA accused of suppressing science after ousting five researchers
New preprints reveal ADA leadership set up an ambush at the conference.
Last month, five leading diabetes researchers—including Steven Kahn (editor-in-chief of Diabetes Care), former ADA President Desmond Schatz, and others—were forcibly removed from the ADA's annual meeting in New Orleans. They had been distributing copies of an editorial published in Diabetes Care that criticized the Trump administration's dismantling of NIH research. Police escorted them out, confiscated badges, and threatened arrest. The ADA later barred them from the conference. Now, the deputy editors of Diabetes Care have posted seven opinion articles and an editorial to a preprint server, claiming the ADA refused to publish them despite prior warning.
These newly released documents contain troubling allegations: that ADA leadership knew scientists would hand out the editorial and deliberately orchestrated an ambush with venue security and local police. The dispute may be rooted in tensions from a prior year's session. The deputy editors wrote that the ADA has already tried to restrict editorial freedom before. Several ADA leaders have resigned, and over 40 officials signed a letter calling the ouster "outrageous" and "fatuous nonsense." The community demands an unconditional public apology.
- Five scientists, including Diabetes Care editor-in-chief Steven Kahn, were ousted from the ADA conference for distributing a critical editorial.
- Deputy editors published seven articles on a preprint server alleging ADA leadership set up an ambush with police.
- The ADA refused to publish the response articles, despite prior knowledge; over 40 officials have condemned the action.
Why It Matters
A major medical society is accused of silencing scientists, threatening editorial freedom and trust in research institutions.