NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, D.C., March 26, 2025: Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has been confirmed as the 18th Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) following a 53-47 vote in the U.S. Senate on March 25, 2025. His appointment comes as part of a broader restructuring of the nation’s health leadership under the current administration.
Bhattacharya, a professor of medicine, economics, and health research policy at Stanford University, is widely known for his role in co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration in 2020. The declaration opposed widespread lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic and instead advocated for a focused protection strategy, sparking intense debate in public health circles.
As NIH Director, Bhattacharya will oversee a budget of nearly $50 billion, responsible for funding numerous scientific projects and research initiatives. He takes the helm at a time of legal disputes over proposed federal research funding cuts, some of which were recently blocked by a U.S. judge. His tenure is expected to influence the future direction of scientific inquiry, particularly regarding academic freedom in research funding.
Bhattacharya has pledged to promote open discourse in science and ensure that research grants are not awarded to institutions that, in his view, suppress academic freedom. His appointment aligns with other recent health leadership changes, including Dr. Marty Makary’s confirmation as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
While Bhattacharya’s supporters praise his commitment to scientific debate and alternative public health strategies, critics worry about the potential impact of his views on federal health policies. His leadership at the NIH is expected to shape key health research policies in the coming years, potentially redefining the nation’s approach to scientific inquiry and medical funding.
Born in 1968 in Kolkata, India, Bhattacharya immigrated to the United States and pursued his education at Stanford University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in economics in 1990, both with honors, followed by a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in 1997 and a Ph.D. in economics in 2000. He currently serves as a professor of medicine, economics, and health research policy at Stanford and is a senior fellow at both the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and the Freeman Spogli Institute.
Cover photo: Jay Bhattacharya NIH/Wikipedia.
