On November 26, Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D. was nominated for Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He began his term on April 1, according to the NIH.
Dr. Bhattacharya is NIH’s 18th director. He will focus on chronic diseases and the Make America Healthy Again Commission. Additionally, he aims to “restore public trust in science.” He will work closely with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Dr. Bhattacharya’s bio, according to the NIH:
“A renowned doctor, researcher and health economist, Dr. Bhattacharya held a tenured professorship in the medical school at Stanford University in California. Dr. Bhattacharya's research has focused on population aging and chronic disease, particularly on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. During the pandemic, Dr. Bhattacharya coauthored the Great Barrington Declaration, which called for opening schools and lifting lockdowns while better protecting older populations who were most vulnerable to the disease.
Dr. Bhattacharya earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Stanford University. He then completed medical school and earned a Ph.D. in economics at Stanford University. He replaces Matthew J. Memoli, M.D., who has served ably as the Acting NIH Director since Jan. 22, 2025.”
