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In this episode, we’re joined by acclaimed investigative journalist Brian Deer, one of the most influential figures in modern medical reporting. A two-time British Press Awards winner and Honorary Doctor of Letters recipient from York St John University, Brian is best known for his rigorous investigations into public health, drug safety, and medical ethics.

His work for The Sunday Times exposed major failures in pharmaceutical oversight and unethical medical practices, including the investigation that dismantled the fraudulent research behind the claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism.

That reporting culminated in his award-winning book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, a detailed examination of how a single false study triggered a global health crisis and lasting damage to public trust. Today’s conversation explores that story and its continuing impact.

01: 55 - Brian’s Journey into investigative Journalism

03:00 - The Vaccine Story

06:50 – What Made Brian Look into The MMR Vaccination and Andrew Wakefield?

10:00 – Turning Points in the Investigation

17:25 – How Did the Paper/ Study Get Published

20:00 – Push Back, Lawsuits and Personal Attacks

34:26 – Has the Public Completely Lost Trust in Vaccinations After Covid-19

38:55 – Was it Coincidence Book Released During Covid-19?

Website: https://briandeer.com

Twitter/X: @deerbrian

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Professor John J. Miller is the director of the Dow Program in American Journalism at Hillsdale College and one of the nation’s most respected literary journalists. A regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, he previously spent many years as a writer and podcaster for National Review. Miller is also the founder and executive director of the Student Free Press Association, the non-profit organization behind The College Fix, which supports and promotes collegiate journalism.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has described him as “one of the best literary journalists in the country,” a reputation reflected in his body of work. He is the author of several books, including The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football, which explores the surprising truths behind presidential intervention that helped shape the sport’s modern identity and the topic of today discussion.

01:20 – Journey into Journalism and What Inspired Writing: The Big Scrum

06:00 - Walter Camp and Theodore Roosevelt History with Football

10:30 – Early Violence and Brutality of Football & Charles Elliot’s Dislike for Football

17:40 – The Introduction of the Forward Pass

24:00 – Fights, Yale vs Harvard and the Flying Wedge

27:00 – Moments in Researching the Big Scrum

32:40 – Walter Camps Wife and Football

34:10 – Where You Can Find and Support Professor Miller

Twitter/x: @heymiller

https://www.heymiller.com/

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Welcome back to HeadFirst: A Concussion Podcast.

Today we have the honour and privilege of welcoming Dr Elisabeth Bik.

Trained originally as a microbiologist, Dr Elisabeth Bik has become a global authority on research ethics and scientific credibility. She is best known for her meticulous investigations into altered images and questionable data practices in academic publishing. Her work has flagged potential problems in thousands of research papers and has played a role in more than a thousand formal retractions tied to compromised scientific standards.

Beyond her investigative impact, Dr Bik’s own research has been widely cited, and her efforts to safeguard the integrity of science have been recognised with several prestigious international honours. Now working independently, she advises on research integrity while continuing to advocate for transparency and ethical responsibility across the scientific world.

01:59 – Dr Elisabeth Bik Journey into Microbiology and Plagiarism

04:44 – Why is Scientific Integrity Important and Why Should We Care?

07:44 – Reasons People Fabricate Result

10:54 – Choosing Research to Sleuth and Common Fabrications

15:44 – Process When Investigating Paper’s

18:53 – Biggest Case Dr Bik Has Worked on and Personal Attacks / Push Back

26:14 – Collateral Damage of Fabricated Research

29:49 – What Questions to ask About ‘Catchy’ Headline’s?

33:14 – How We Can Support and Help Dr Bik’s Work

Dr Elisabeth Bik

X/Twitter: @MicrobiomDigest

Patreon.com/elisabethbik

Website: https://scienceintegritydigest.com/about/