The
Standard
The principles that govern every investigation, publication, and recommendation.
We pursue the truth with rigor, humility, and courage.
These eight standards are the foundation of everything we do.
Reality comes before opinion.
We follow the evidence wherever it leads, not where we hope it leads.
Evidence matters more than authority.
Every claim must stand on the quality of the evidence—not reputation, popularity, or institutional status.
Mechanisms matter.
Associations can reveal patterns. Mechanisms reveal why those patterns exist.
No single line of evidence is sufficient.
Extraordinary claims require multiple, independent, converging lines of evidence.
Confidence must match the evidence.
We are careful not to oversell what the evidence can actually support.
The best explanation must account for the whole picture.
It must fit all of the evidence, including the hard cases and apparent contradictions.
Uncertainty must be stated honestly.
We clearly communicate what is known, what is unknown, and how sure we can be.
Changing your mind is a sign of intellectual integrity.
When better evidence emerges, we update our thinking—publicly and without hesitation.
To improve human health by pursuing the truth with rigor, humility, and courage.