NIH Appoints John Powers III as Acting Director of NIAID Following Leadership Vacancy
The National Institutes of Health has appointed researcher John Powers III as acting director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), ending a weeks-long leadership gap. Powers, previously a senior adviser and deputy to outgoing director Jeffrey Taubenberger, takes over an institute responsible for $6.5 billion in funding. The appointment comes amid heightened scrutiny over recent disease outbreaks and concerns about leadership stability at the agency.
The National Institutes of Health has named John Powers III to serve as acting director of NIAID following the departure of previous director Jeffrey Taubenberger. Powers, who previously held the position of senior adviser and served as Taubenberger's deputy, brings extensive experience in clinical infectious diseases, clinical research, regulatory science, and public health leadership. NIAID, the NIH's second-largest agency, has faced leadership instability, having been without a permanent director since the ousting of Jeanne Marrazzo in March. The appointment was announced via email to NIH staff on Tuesday morning. The timing of the appointment reflects heightened attention to the institute's leadership amid recent disease outbreaks, including hantavirus and Ebola cases in Central Africa, and recent reassignments of other top leaders have prompted lawmakers to express concerns about the depth of infectious disease expertise available.
What's missing
The sources do not provide details on the timeline for appointing a permanent director or the specific reasons for Taubenberger's departure.
What different sources said
- STAT NewsCenter
STAT+: NIAID appoints new acting director after weeks-long questions over leadership
- NBC NewsLeft
High-profile exits, curious absences: The leadership vacuum plaguing U.S. health agencies
- statnews.comCenter
NIAID appoints new acting director after weekslong questions over leadership
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