Wed Nov 27 03:11:11 UTC 2024: **Trump Names Indian-American Scientist to Head NIH**
Washington, D.C. – President-elect Donald Trump announced the nomination of Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), making him the first Indian-American to receive a top administrative nomination from Mr. Trump. Dr. Bhattacharya, a professor at Stanford University, will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct national medical research.
Mr. Trump highlighted Dr. Bhattacharya’s extensive research in health policy and economics, focusing on vulnerable populations and government programs. His work includes co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration, an alternative to COVID-19 lockdowns proposed in 2020. The President-elect emphasized the pair’s goal of restoring the NIH to a “gold standard” of medical research and addressing major health challenges facing the nation.
In related news, Mr. Trump also nominated Jim O’Neill as deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, tasked with improving operational efficiency and transparency within the department. Mr. O’Neill’s previous experience includes leading reforms at the FDA. These appointments follow Mr. Trump’s earlier selection of Vivek Ramaswamy to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, a voluntary position.
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