Biden nominates Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to lead the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Monica Bertagnolli speaks as, from left, Dr. Alan Ashworth, Dr. Paola Bentancur, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, medical student Kami Pullakhandam and Dr. Rita Mukhtar look on during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2022. 

 

Photo: John G. Mabanglo-Pool/Getty Images

President Biden has announced the nomination of National Cancer Institute Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its $47 billion annual budget.

Bertagnolli is a world-renowned surgical oncologist, cancer researcher, educator and physician-leader, Biden said in nominating Bertagnolli on Tuesday.

Bertagnolli has been at the forefront of clinical and research oncology and championed collaborative initiatives to transform the data infrastructure for cancer research. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a past president and chair of the board of directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, according to The White House statement.

"Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients, and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care," Biden said by statement. "Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people."

WHY THIS MATTERS

The Senate needs to confirm the nomination. If approved, Bertagnolli steps into the role last held by Dr. Francis S. Collins, who stepped down at the end of 2021, ending a 12-year tenure under three presidents.
 
Bertagnolli's nomination ends a 17-month search and signals the federal government's pursuit of cutting-edge medical research, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The NIH is a big player in the funding of biomedical research, and evidence suggests this research has played a key role in generating large gains in health and longevity, according to The Brookings Institution.

NIH funding plays a fundamental role in funding support for most U.S.-based academic biomedical researchers. Around 50% of patents linked to drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration directly cite NIH-funded research, according to Brookings. 
 
However, there is genuine uncertainty over whether the agency should support "people" or "projects" and whether traditional NIH funding mechanisms are flexible enough to fund the highest social impact research opportunities, said Brookings, which has offered several proposals by scholars on the equitable distribution of NIH-funded advancements.

"Even small improvements in the productivity of how NIH funding is spent could translate into massive improvements in social welfare. These short proposals are meant to open a conversation about practical, tractable reforms that could be considered in the coming years," said contributor Heidi Williams of Stanford University and Institute for Progress. 

THE LARGER TREND: REACTION

A wide range of physician and research leaders, patient groups, and health advocates have sent their written support for the president's nomination, including Dr. Clifford A. Hudis, CEO of American Society of Clinical Oncology. 

"We are delighted that Dr. Bertagnolli will be nominated to lead the National Institutes of Health," Hudis said. "Her experience in all aspects of medical research, clinical care, and commitment to advancing science, as well as her own experience as a patient, make her an ideal leader for the nation's top federal medical research agency at this exciting time in science. Her role shepherding the ambitious Cancer Moonshot initiative, including the recent launch of the National Cancer Plan, clearly demonstrates her ability to take an inspiring vision and create real and meaningful action."

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org