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Trump's NIH Nominee Jay Bhattacharya Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Leadership and Reforms

Bhattacharya, a vocal critic of pandemic policies, is set to lead the NIH during a period of funding cuts, mass firings, and proposed shifts in research priorities.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 10, 2022.
Mark Lockwood, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing, processes a specimen that is part of a study under a RO1 federal grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, at the UIC campus in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. February 28, 2025.
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Overview

  • Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, known for opposing COVID-19 lockdowns, is undergoing Senate confirmation to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
  • If confirmed, Bhattacharya would oversee the NIH's $50 billion budget and 27 research institutes, despite his unconventional background in health economics rather than clinical or basic science research.
  • The Trump administration's proposed cuts to NIH funding and staffing, along with a suspension of new grant reviews, have raised concerns about the future of medical research.
  • Bhattacharya supports reforms linking NIH grants to academic freedom and plans to encourage dissenting scientific perspectives within the agency.
  • Democrats have expressed concerns about Bhattacharya's past criticisms of NIH leadership and the potential impact of his policies on infectious disease research and public health initiatives.