NIH Names John Powers III to Lead $6.5 Billion Infectious Disease Institute
Updated
Updated · STAT · Jun 9
NIH Names John Powers III to Lead $6.5 Billion Infectious Disease Institute
3 articles · Updated · STAT · Jun 9
Summary
John Powers III was appointed acting director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, ending weeks of uncertainty after reports that Jeffery Taubenberger had stepped down.
The move fills a leadership gap at NIH’s second-largest agency, which has lacked a permanent chief since Jeanne Marrazzo was ousted in March.
Powers had served as a senior adviser at NIAID and as Taubenberger’s deputy; NIH told staff he brings experience in clinical infectious diseases, research, regulatory science and public health leadership.
The appointment comes as lawmakers question NIH’s infectious-disease bench after several senior leaders were reassigned, with concern heightened by a hantavirus outbreak and an Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.