President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), making him the first Indian-American in this role. Trump's selection follows his appointment of Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy to a voluntary position in the Department of Government Efficiency. Bhattacharya, a respected Health Policy professor at Stanford University, will collaborate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to drive medical research, aiming to address critical health challenges and enhance well-being in the U.S.
President-elect Donald Trump has made a significant choice by nominating Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya as the head of the prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH), a pivotal institution for health research and funding in the United States.
In this landmark decision, Mr. Bhattacharya becomes the first Indian-American to be selected by Mr. Trump for a prominent administrative role. This move follows the earlier selection of Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency alongside prominent figure Elon Musk, in a voluntary capacity that does not require Senate confirmation.
Expressing his excitement, Mr. Trump shared, "I am thrilled to nominate Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to lead the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bhattacharya, in collaboration with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will spearhead the nation's medical research efforts, driving crucial discoveries that enhance health outcomes and save lives."
He further added, "Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will revitalize the NIH's stature in medical research, delving into the root causes of some of America's most pressing health challenges, including chronic illnesses and diseases. Their joint efforts will be instrumental in advancing the goal of making America healthy once more."
Mr. Bhattacharya, a distinguished professor of Health Policy at Stanford University and a respected researcher affiliated with various esteemed institutions, including the National Bureau of Economics Research, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute, and the Hoover Institution, boasts an impressive academic background.
At Stanford, he leads the Centre for Demography and Economics of Health and Aging, focusing his research on improving the health and well-being of marginalized populations through the lens of government programs, biomedical advancements, and economic principles.
Notably, Mr. Bhattacharya is a co-author of the influential Great Barrington Declaration, offering an alternative approach to lockdowns that gained attention in October 2020. His extensive body of peer-reviewed work spans across multiple disciplines such as economics, statistics, law, medicine, public health, and health policy, showcasing his multidisciplinary expertise. Holding both an MD and PhD in Economics from Stanford University, Mr. Bhattacharya's appointment signifies a push towards innovative and collaborative leadership at the NIH under the Trump administration.
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