Rosalind Evans
In an announcement, the White House revealed that President Joe Biden had chosen Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, the current head of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to become the next National Institutes of Health (NIH) director.
Describing Bertagnolli as a “world-class physician-scientist,” President Biden expressed confidence in her leadership and vision to drive innovation and enhance the health of the American population. The nomination, if confirmed by the Senate, will fill a position that has remained vacant for over a year. As NIH director, Bertagnolli would oversee 27 research institutes and centers dedicated to various fields of medical research, including cancer, the human genome, allergies, and infectious diseases.
Bertagnolli’s selection for the NIH directorship represents a rapid rise within the Biden administration. She made history in October by becoming the first woman to lead the NCI. However, only two months into her tenure, she disclosed in December that she had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and was undergoing treatment, as she revealed in an interview with NPR in February.
If confirmed, Bertagnolli will succeed Dr. Lawrence Tabak, who has been serving as the acting NIH director since the retirement of his predecessor, Francis Collins, at the end of 2021. Collins had held the position for 12 years.
President Biden’s statement also acknowledges Bertagnolli’s contributions to his Cancer Moonshot initiative, a personal endeavour motivated by losing his son, Beau Biden, who passed away in 2015 at 46 after battling brain cancer. The initiative aims to reduce cancer mortality rates by 50% by 2047. Bertagnolli’s involvement in the program includes mobilizing partners and resources across various sectors to launch groundbreaking initiatives in cancer prevention, early detection, childhood cancer navigation programs, and expanding access to clinical trials for more Americans.
Before assuming her role at the NCI, Bertagnolli held the Richard E. Wilson Professor of Surgery position in surgical oncology at Harvard Medical School. She also served as a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and was affiliated with the Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment and Sarcoma Centers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Dr. Monica Bertagnolli’s nomination as the following National Institutes of Health director represents a significant step forward in the Biden administration’s commitment to advancing medical research and improving public health. With her expertise in cancer surgery and leadership at the National Cancer Institute, Bertagnolli is well-equipped to guide the NIH’s diverse research institutes and centers. If confirmed, she will play a crucial role in driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and furthering the fight against diseases that impact the lives of countless Americans. Her appointment underscores the administration’s dedication to tackling the challenges of our time through scientific advancements and the importance of medical research in shaping the future of healthcare.
