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Basic medical research backed by NIH director, controversy ensues

By tfk on March 21, 2007.

Embryonic stem cell research gets surprise support:

"From my standpoint, it is clear today that American science will be better-served, and the nation will be better-served, if we let our scientists have access to more stem cell lines," Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, told the Senate health appropriations subcommittee, which oversees the agency's nearly $29-billion budget.

"We cannot, I would think, be second-best in this area," Zerhouni said. "I think it is important for us not to fight with one hand tied behind our back here, and NIH is key to that."

Asked about the potential of adult stem cells and of other means of producing stem cells, Dr. Zerhouni was equally blunt:

"I think they are overstated," he said. "We do not know at this point where the breakthrough will come from…. All angles in stem cell research should be pursued."

Zerhouni is said to have paved the way to his nomination for NIH director by having "endorsed Brownback's anti-cloning bill in writing."

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Zerhouni & the NIH

From a peice in the latest issue of Nature:

NIH Director Elias Zerhouni Announces Resignation

Earlier today, Elias Zerhouni--who has been the director of the NIH since 2002--announced that he will resign at the end of this October.

A change in NIH leadership

Elias A. Zerhouni, is stepping down as head of the National Institutes of Health. I heard about the announcement last night at the NERD meeting. Many were happy. Many blog commentators have added their two cents. Here are mine:

Zerhouni to step down

As you may have already heard, Alias Zerhouni will step down from his position of the NIH director in October, not waiting for the inauguration of a new Administration. He has been a strong and effective proponent of Open Access and I hope his successor will be as well.

I assume that within the week he will be quietly dismissed for "performance reasons", then replaced without Senate approval by means of a previously unnoticed statute hidden in the Patriot Act.