Medical group leader apologies to Northwestern researcher, others booted from conference over Trump critique
The American Diabetes Association’s CEO, Charles Henderson, publicly apologized to Northwestern researcher Justin Ryder and others who were removed from the group’s New Orleans conference for distributing a Trump administration critique. The incident involved police confiscating Ryder’s badge and threatening arrest, while Henderson pledged an independent review and commitment to scientific inquiry and First Amendment principles.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) issued a public apology after security and police removed researchers, including Northwestern University’s Justin Ryder, from its conference in New Orleans for distributing an editorial critical of President Donald Trump’s administration. The incident occurred on June 5 when Ryder and others handed out a paper titled *Misguided Brushes of a Pen Continue to Dismantle and Destroy Biomedical Research in the United States*, published in the ADA’s journal *Diabetes Care*. Police confiscated Ryder’s conference badge and warned him of arrest if he returned. ADA CEO Charles Henderson released a video apology on June 12, expressing regret for the ‘hurt, frustration, and pain’ caused and acknowledging concerns from the diabetes community. He stated the Virginia-based organization would conduct an independent review and outlined future commitments to scientific discovery and advocacy for research funding. While Henderson did not directly address First Amendment concerns, he reaffirmed the ADA’s support for NIH funding and scientific inquiry. Ryder, a pediatric obesity specialist at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine and Lurie Children’s Hospital, emphasized the importance of unfettered scientific communication. He previously told the *Chicago Sun-Times* that Trump administration policies were ‘damaging’ to medical progress, warning that lives would be lost without unrestricted research. An online petition with over 7,000 signatures demanded the ADA apologize and adopt a ‘policy of freedom of expression.’ The editorial, published in *Diabetes Care*, condemned the administration’s actions as undermining biomedical research, urging scientists to resist ‘complacency and fear.’ The ADA’s response follows widespread criticism of the incident, with Henderson vowing transparency about future steps to prevent similar occurrences. The organization has pledged to uphold scientific integrity while addressing broader concerns about political interference in research.
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