Dr. Jayanta "Jay" Bhattacharya officially assumed office as the 18th Director of the National Institutes of Health on April 1. Nominated by President Donald Trump in November 2024, Bhattacharya was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 25.
As NIH Director, Bhattacharya will lead the agency in shaping its programs and strategic direction. He will also play a key role in aligning the NIH's efforts with the goals of the President's Make America Healthy Again Commission.
Bhattacharya previously held a tenured professorship in the medical school at Stanford University in California. His research has focused on population aging and chronic disease, particularly on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.