Wed Nov 27 02:53:43 UTC 2024: ## Trump Nominates Indian-American Doctor to Lead National Institutes of Health
**Washington D.C.** – President-elect Donald Trump has announced the nomination of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian-American physician and economist, to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH, with a budget of approximately $47.3 billion, is the nation’s leading public funder of medical research.
Dr. Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor and vocal critic of the federal government’s COVID-19 response, will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reform the NIH, according to Trump. The pair will focus on addressing major health challenges, including the rise of chronic illnesses.
Born in Kolkata in 1968, Dr. Bhattacharya holds a doctorate in medicine and a PhD in economics from Stanford University. His research spans health policy, economics, epidemiology, and public health, with a focus on vulnerable populations and the impact of government programs and biomedical innovation. He is known for his work on the epidemiology of COVID-19 and his co-authorship of the Great Barrington Declaration, an open letter advocating for a less restrictive approach to COVID-19 mitigation. He has published over 135 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The nomination is expected to generate significant discussion given Dr. Bhattacharya’s controversial views on pandemic policy.
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