Senate Confirms Oncologist Monica Bertagnolli to Lead National Institutes of Health Despite Opposition Over Drug Prices

Bertagnolli, first woman to lead National Cancer Institute, confirmed as NIH director after nearly two-year vacancy with 62-36 bipartisan vote despite Bernie Sanders' opposition concerning drug pricing policies.

The U.S Senate confirmed Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, a surgical oncologist and former leader of the National Cancer Institute, as the new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in a 62-36 bipartisan vote.
The appointment fills a nearly two-year-long vacancy at NIH, a key public health institution responsible for managing billions of dollars in federal research grants and overseeing health innovations including vaccine development.
Despite broad support, Bertagnolli's confirmation faced opposition from Senator Bernie Sanders who criticized her stance on prescription drug pricing policies and raised concerns about her readiness to challenge the pharmaceutical industry.
Beyond her medical expertise, Bertagnolli brings a wealth of administrative experience to her new role, having served as a professor at Harvard Medical School, a surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and a member of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment and Sarcoma Centers.
As the new NIH director, Bertagnolli aims to speed up clinical trials and make them more inclusive and responsive to patient needs, building on her focus on diversifying clinical trials and the workforce treating patients at the National Cancer Institute.