The National Institutes of Health has appointed researcher John Powers III to lead its infectious disease institute on an acting basis, after weeks of being in leadership limbo following reports that the previous director, Jeffrey Taubenberger, had stepped down.
The appointment of Powers, previously a senior adviser at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and Taubenberger’s deputy, comes at a moment of heightened attention for the institute. The NIH’s second-largest agency, responsible for $6.5 billion worth of funding, has been without a permanent leader since the ousting of Jeanne Marrazzo last March. In recent weeks, a handful of other top leaders have also been reassigned to other posts, causing lawmakers to express concern about the bench of infectious disease expertise at a time of alarm over the recent hantavirus outbreak and the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
The news was announced to NIH in an email, seen by STAT, sent to staff Tuesday morning. Powers “brings extensive experience in clinical infectious diseases, clinical research, regulatory science and public health leadership,” the email said.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.
Already have an account? Log in
To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.