Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
@epiellie.bsky.social
Epidemiologist and science communicator | newsletter: epiellie.substack.com | cohost @casualinfer podcast | Causal inference for public health #epitwitter | Canadian in US 🇨🇦 | she/her/Dr
Pinned
Finally, a well-done study about autism and Tylenol!
We have read a LOT of bad research over the past few weeks, as we explore what RFK Jr thinks about the causes of autism. Finally, we get to read some good research!
open.substack.com
I took a whole week to read and write about this paper because I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t just rubber-stamping some results I liked. And now I can confidently say, this paper is very well-done and very well-written.
And I believe their results.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
And I believe their results.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Today’s post is brought to you by my horrible neck & nerve pain, and is about the measurement bias we (almost) never bother to discuss in epi: measurement misspecification.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Measurement Misspecification: When Your Data Aren't Wrong or Right.
If you’ve been reading E is for Epi for a while, you probably know about my chronic neck pain. Today's post is inspired by the challenges of measuring pain.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Today’s post is brought to you by my horrible neck & nerve pain, and is about the measurement bias we (almost) never bother to discuss in epi: measurement misspecification.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
This is why I hate RFK Jr’s push to switch to screening pregnant women for Hep B: moms aren’t the only people who can infect babies with Hep B!
Did you know?
Kids can be affected by “horizontal transmission” of Hep B without likely exposure to blood or sexual contact
Most US articles on horizontal transmission are 30 years old
Why?
The perinatal dose of the Hep B vaccine — These cases declined after it was recommended by ACIP in 1991
Kids can be affected by “horizontal transmission” of Hep B without likely exposure to blood or sexual contact
Most US articles on horizontal transmission are 30 years old
Why?
The perinatal dose of the Hep B vaccine — These cases declined after it was recommended by ACIP in 1991
Horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus infection to United States-born children of Hmong refugees - PubMed
There is evidence that hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission continues among Southeast Asian refugees after resettlement. To determine the prevalence of HBV infection (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] positive or core antibody positive) and modes of transmission in Hmong refugee households in Wisc …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
This is why I hate RFK Jr’s push to switch to screening pregnant women for Hep B: moms aren’t the only people who can infect babies with Hep B!
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
Did you know?
Kids can be affected by “horizontal transmission” of Hep B without likely exposure to blood or sexual contact
Most US articles on horizontal transmission are 30 years old
Why?
The perinatal dose of the Hep B vaccine — These cases declined after it was recommended by ACIP in 1991
Kids can be affected by “horizontal transmission” of Hep B without likely exposure to blood or sexual contact
Most US articles on horizontal transmission are 30 years old
Why?
The perinatal dose of the Hep B vaccine — These cases declined after it was recommended by ACIP in 1991
Horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus infection to United States-born children of Hmong refugees - PubMed
There is evidence that hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission continues among Southeast Asian refugees after resettlement. To determine the prevalence of HBV infection (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] positive or core antibody positive) and modes of transmission in Hmong refugee households in Wisc …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Did you know?
Kids can be affected by “horizontal transmission” of Hep B without likely exposure to blood or sexual contact
Most US articles on horizontal transmission are 30 years old
Why?
The perinatal dose of the Hep B vaccine — These cases declined after it was recommended by ACIP in 1991
Kids can be affected by “horizontal transmission” of Hep B without likely exposure to blood or sexual contact
Most US articles on horizontal transmission are 30 years old
Why?
The perinatal dose of the Hep B vaccine — These cases declined after it was recommended by ACIP in 1991
Would really like to know how Sen Bill Cassidy is sleeping through the night these days. And yes, I hold him responsible for RFK Jr’s destruction of the CDC. He could have stopped it with his vote. None of what RFK Jr is doing is a surprise. Cassidy explicitly chose this.
November 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Would really like to know how Sen Bill Cassidy is sleeping through the night these days. And yes, I hold him responsible for RFK Jr’s destruction of the CDC. He could have stopped it with his vote. None of what RFK Jr is doing is a surprise. Cassidy explicitly chose this.
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
The US has had measles “elimination status” for 25 years. It may be about to lose this status.
Measles can severely and fatally impact children, including infants under 1 year old who are too young to be vaccinated.
Increasing — and not further decreasing — child vaccination rates is essential.
Measles can severely and fatally impact children, including infants under 1 year old who are too young to be vaccinated.
Increasing — and not further decreasing — child vaccination rates is essential.
Texas Measles Strain Continues to Spread, Officials Say
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The US has had measles “elimination status” for 25 years. It may be about to lose this status.
Measles can severely and fatally impact children, including infants under 1 year old who are too young to be vaccinated.
Increasing — and not further decreasing — child vaccination rates is essential.
Measles can severely and fatally impact children, including infants under 1 year old who are too young to be vaccinated.
Increasing — and not further decreasing — child vaccination rates is essential.
Today's post is all about why Direct-to-Consumer Lab testing companies, the ones that offer "whole body scans" and "complete blood panels" are not worth your time or money.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Direct-to-Consumer Lab Results are Probably Wrong
Doctors rely on the information they have about you to target medical tests at people most likely to be sick. This means that a positive test result from a test ordered by your doctor is probably corr...
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Today's post is all about why Direct-to-Consumer Lab testing companies, the ones that offer "whole body scans" and "complete blood panels" are not worth your time or money.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Over the last few weeks, the weight of the world has really been getting to me and I’ve found it hard to get motivated to write any articles.
But today I'm ripping off the bandaid. With a post about ripping off bandaids. Enjoy!
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
But today I'm ripping off the bandaid. With a post about ripping off bandaids. Enjoy!
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
When you're ripping off a bandaid, do it quick!
Over the last few weeks, the weight of the world has really been getting to me and I’ve found it hard to get motivated to write any articles. But today I'm ripping off the bandaid. With a post about r...
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Over the last few weeks, the weight of the world has really been getting to me and I’ve found it hard to get motivated to write any articles.
But today I'm ripping off the bandaid. With a post about ripping off bandaids. Enjoy!
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
But today I'm ripping off the bandaid. With a post about ripping off bandaids. Enjoy!
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
Our beloved Alice Wong has joined the ancestors. It was one of the great honors of my life to call Alice my friend, co-author & co-conspirator. She was a true genius, a force of nature the likes of which the world has never seen before. I love you, Alice, and am equal parts grateful and devastated
November 15, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Our beloved Alice Wong has joined the ancestors. It was one of the great honors of my life to call Alice my friend, co-author & co-conspirator. She was a true genius, a force of nature the likes of which the world has never seen before. I love you, Alice, and am equal parts grateful and devastated
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
Over the summer some very important public health program leaders shared their struggles in keeping their work going since the #usaid cuts
Here’s an article about it, please share to increase awareness & motivate political action
“Decades of progress - undone”
www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democ...
Here’s an article about it, please share to increase awareness & motivate political action
“Decades of progress - undone”
www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democ...
Decades of progress — undone
After years of steady gains against poverty and inequality, the recent funding cuts threaten Africa’s health systems. New, resilient funding is vital
www.ips-journal.eu
November 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Over the summer some very important public health program leaders shared their struggles in keeping their work going since the #usaid cuts
Here’s an article about it, please share to increase awareness & motivate political action
“Decades of progress - undone”
www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democ...
Here’s an article about it, please share to increase awareness & motivate political action
“Decades of progress - undone”
www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democ...
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
Public news is an essential public good
The threats are substantial — it has been sad & serious to see cuts to NPR & PBS in the US
May leaders in the UK & around the world speak up for the BBC
The threats are substantial — it has been sad & serious to see cuts to NPR & PBS in the US
May leaders in the UK & around the world speak up for the BBC
If you care about the BBC, stand up and defend it: this could be the beginning of the end | Polly Toynbee
If you care about the BBC, stand up and defend it: this could be the beginning of the end | Polly Toynbee
Replacing the TV licence with a means-tested alternative may help disarm the right of one of its most effective weapons, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Public news is an essential public good
The threats are substantial — it has been sad & serious to see cuts to NPR & PBS in the US
May leaders in the UK & around the world speak up for the BBC
The threats are substantial — it has been sad & serious to see cuts to NPR & PBS in the US
May leaders in the UK & around the world speak up for the BBC
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
I am a f*ing health economist and I approve this message.
I have a f*ing doctorate in epidemiology and I’m still so confused about how to pick a health insurance plan. Open enrollment should not be this hard!
November 9, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I am a f*ing health economist and I approve this message.
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
I have a f*ing M.B.A. and I’m still so confused about how to pick a health insurance plan. Open enrollment should not be this hard!
I have a f*ing doctorate in epidemiology and I’m still so confused about how to pick a health insurance plan. Open enrollment should not be this hard!
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I have a f*ing M.B.A. and I’m still so confused about how to pick a health insurance plan. Open enrollment should not be this hard!
I have a f*ing doctorate in epidemiology and I’m still so confused about how to pick a health insurance plan. Open enrollment should not be this hard!
November 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I have a f*ing doctorate in epidemiology and I’m still so confused about how to pick a health insurance plan. Open enrollment should not be this hard!
Everything is awful but I’ve started taking ballet classes again for the first time since college and wow it is amazing how much joy being this bad at something can bring me!
November 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Everything is awful but I’ve started taking ballet classes again for the first time since college and wow it is amazing how much joy being this bad at something can bring me!
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
We’ve lived with microbes for millions of years. They built our immune systems, rewired our DNA, and killed billions along the way.
I tried to tally their bill: Humanity’s Deadliest Companions.
#EpiSky #MedSky #History #Anthropology #Archaeology #IDSky
open.substack.com/pub/theedgeo...
I tried to tally their bill: Humanity’s Deadliest Companions.
#EpiSky #MedSky #History #Anthropology #Archaeology #IDSky
open.substack.com/pub/theedgeo...
Humanity’s Deadliest Companions: Checking the Till on the Deadliest Microbes in History
I was reorganizing parts of my bookshelf the other day when I came across my copy of Deadly Companions by Dorothy Crawford.
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:44 PM
We’ve lived with microbes for millions of years. They built our immune systems, rewired our DNA, and killed billions along the way.
I tried to tally their bill: Humanity’s Deadliest Companions.
#EpiSky #MedSky #History #Anthropology #Archaeology #IDSky
open.substack.com/pub/theedgeo...
I tried to tally their bill: Humanity’s Deadliest Companions.
#EpiSky #MedSky #History #Anthropology #Archaeology #IDSky
open.substack.com/pub/theedgeo...
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
What was life really like before vaccines? The story of what happened to 8-year old George Williams in August 1852 gives us a glimpse.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Here's what life before vaccines was really like
The morning of August 2nd 1852 promised a lovely summer’s day in London. But not for 8 year old George Williams.
open.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
What was life really like before vaccines? The story of what happened to 8-year old George Williams in August 1852 gives us a glimpse.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
What was life really like before vaccines? The story of what happened to 8-year old George Williams in August 1852 gives us a glimpse.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Here's what life before vaccines was really like
The morning of August 2nd 1852 promised a lovely summer’s day in London. But not for 8 year old George Williams.
open.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
What was life really like before vaccines? The story of what happened to 8-year old George Williams in August 1852 gives us a glimpse.
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
A short history of children's hospitals in case anyone you know thinks like Rob Schneider:
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
A Short History of Children's Hospitals
The MAHA claim that there was “no autism when we were kids” has apparently now evolved into the even more nonsensical idea that “kids weren’t sick” at all.
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
A short history of children's hospitals in case anyone you know thinks like Rob Schneider:
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Having a bad pain day today & nerve weakness made me drop and smash my favorite coffee mug😭😭 send gifs plz
October 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Having a bad pain day today & nerve weakness made me drop and smash my favorite coffee mug😭😭 send gifs plz
I need more people to know about this nonsense happening in my comments…
Me: here’s a detailed review of this study.
Them: My AI says it’s trending towards significance, tho
Me: here’s a detailed review of this study.
Them: My AI says it’s trending towards significance, tho
October 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I need more people to know about this nonsense happening in my comments…
Me: here’s a detailed review of this study.
Them: My AI says it’s trending towards significance, tho
Me: here’s a detailed review of this study.
Them: My AI says it’s trending towards significance, tho
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
Dr. Ellie Murray (THE @epiellie.bsky.social!) is our featured guest at The Pom today, cutting through the chaos for answers to some of our most pressing public health and parenting questions. Don't miss this free piece, nor the opportunity to ask your own questions!
www.the-pom.com/p/kids-and-p...
www.the-pom.com/p/kids-and-p...
Kids & Public Health: Q&A with Dr Ellie Murray
Cutting through the chaos for answers to our public health parenting questions
www.the-pom.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Dr. Ellie Murray (THE @epiellie.bsky.social!) is our featured guest at The Pom today, cutting through the chaos for answers to some of our most pressing public health and parenting questions. Don't miss this free piece, nor the opportunity to ask your own questions!
www.the-pom.com/p/kids-and-p...
www.the-pom.com/p/kids-and-p...
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
So excited to have my sister @epiellie.bsky.social on The Pom today, talking about how to discern good public health information so we can make the right choices for our kids www.the-pom.com/p/kids-and-p...
Kids & Public Health: Q&A with Dr Ellie Murray
Cutting through the chaos for answers to our public health parenting questions
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:48 PM
So excited to have my sister @epiellie.bsky.social on The Pom today, talking about how to discern good public health information so we can make the right choices for our kids www.the-pom.com/p/kids-and-p...
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
Want to read something from a public figure who *actually* wants to help children and parents with research, evidence-based practices, and intelligent consideration of risks and benefits? Go follow @epiellie.bsky.social. Not RFK Jr.
So excited to have my sister @epiellie.bsky.social on The Pom today, talking about how to discern good public health information so we can make the right choices for our kids www.the-pom.com/p/kids-and-p...
Kids & Public Health: Q&A with Dr Ellie Murray
Cutting through the chaos for answers to our public health parenting questions
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Want to read something from a public figure who *actually* wants to help children and parents with research, evidence-based practices, and intelligent consideration of risks and benefits? Go follow @epiellie.bsky.social. Not RFK Jr.
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
I’ve followed @epiellie.bsky.social since 2020 for her plain spoken, evidence based advice on keeping our family healthy. I am THRILLED to have her team up with @sarahradz.bsky.social at @thepom.bsky.social today! (Bonus toddler pics of Sarah included)
Kids & Public Health: Q&A with Dr Ellie Murray
Cutting through the chaos for answers to our public health parenting questions
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I’ve followed @epiellie.bsky.social since 2020 for her plain spoken, evidence based advice on keeping our family healthy. I am THRILLED to have her team up with @sarahradz.bsky.social at @thepom.bsky.social today! (Bonus toddler pics of Sarah included)
Reposted by Dr Ellie Murray, ScD
Check out my new article: vitalstatistics.kareemcarr.com/p/a-simple-e...
October 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Check out my new article: vitalstatistics.kareemcarr.com/p/a-simple-e...