The incoming Trump administration, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, plans to overhaul the NIH, shifting focus from infectious diseases to alternative health strategies.
Teddy Rosenbluth and Emily Anthes report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, advocates for reducing vaccine research and focusing on chronic diseases with alternative approaches.
- Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, slated for NIH director, aims to decentralize agency power and implement controversial health policies, including his stance on herd immunity during the pandemic.
- Critics warn the changes could disrupt vital research and damage the NIH’s long-standing bipartisan support and scientific contributions.
Key quote:
“Should we stop funding any specific type of research, it would set us back decades in terms of our ability to respond to new threats and our ability to protect the public.”
— Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health
Why this matters:
Radical shifts at the NIH could stymie essential research in vaccines and chronic diseases, weakening public health defenses against emerging threats. Proposed changes risk driving scientists away and undermining the agency’s role as a global leader in biomedical innovation.
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