BMJ

Trump picks Jay Bhattacharya as nominee to lead NIH

December 3, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University physician and health economist, to serve as the next director of the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya gained prominence for his criticism of COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates, advocating for herd immunity through the Great Barrington Declaration. His nomination aligns with Trump's broader strategy to reshape public health policy, emphasizing a return to pre-pandemic norms and addressing chronic illnesses. If confirmed by the Senate, Bhattacharya will oversee NIH's $48 billion budget, directing significant medical research efforts and potentially shifting the agency's focus towards more controversial public health strategies.

Source:

Hopkins Tanne, J. (2024, December 2). BMJ. Trump nominates Jay Bhattacharya to head US National Institutes of Health. https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2695.full