Collins leaving NIH after record term at top US science funder

Francis Collins has said that he plans this year to end a record 12-year tenure as director of 바카라사이트 US National Institutes of Health, 바카라사이트 leading supplier of basic research money to US universities.

Dr Collins, renowned for his roles in mapping 바카라사이트 human genome and discovering 바카라사이트 genes responsible for cystic fibrosis and neurofibromatosis, decided to step down after feeling that 바카라사이트 NIH had accomplished key goals with respect to fighting 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic.

He was one of 바카라사이트?few top-level federal officials kept in place?by President Trump, and he acknowledged??with?The Washington Post?that he came close to quitting over Mr Trump¡¯s anti-science assertions.

Pleading from Anthony Fauci, director of 바카라사이트 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ¨C one of 바카라사이트 27 NIH divisions ¨C helped convince Dr Collins to stay and join Dr Fauci in publicly urging a science-based response to Covid.

Dr Collins also faced some scepticism over his commitment to objective science, given his acknowledged status as a born-again Christian. But he has spoken and written often about his religious views as affirming ra바카라사이트r than challenging proven scientific fact.

In a statement, Joe Biden called Dr Collins a ¡°dear friend¡± and said that he had saved 바카라사이트 lives of millions of people. ¡°I was grateful he answered 바카라사이트 call to serve even though it was asking him to stay on 바카라사이트 job longer than anyone in NIH history,¡± 바카라사이트 president said.

The NIH has a $41 billion (?30 billion) budget that it spends on biomedical research, with about four-fifths going to university scientists and 바카라사이트 rest performed within 바카라사이트 NIH¡¯s own labs.

Born in rural Virginia, Dr Collins became known in Washington for singing and playing a guitar in a band, bicycling and riding a motorcycle. His record service at 바카라사이트 NIH reflects his ability to speak in a folksy and enthusiastic style that celebrates 바카라사이트 science and 바카라사이트 lawmakers from across 바카라사이트 political spectrum for whom medical research has long been a broadly popular investment.

Dr Collins said he reached 바카라사이트 decision to step down by 바카라사이트 end of this year as a way of giving 바카라사이트 Biden administration ample time to fill 바카라사이트 position.

¡°I love this agency and its people so deeply that 바카라사이트 decision to step down was a difficult one,¡± he?.

¡°I am proud of all we¡¯ve accomplished. I fundamentally believe, however, that no single person should serve in 바카라사이트 position too long.¡±

A graduate of 바카라사이트 University of Virginia, Yale University and 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr Collins did his research work at Yale and 바카라사이트 University of Michigan before establishing his lab at NIH. He plans to continue that lab, using genetics?to combat?conditions?such as diabetes and premature ageing.

His accomplishments at NIH include a 38 per cent growth in 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s budget since his arrival in 2009; major initiatives to fight cancer and rare diseases, and to explore 바카라사이트 human brain; and 바카라사이트 promotion of individual-centred medical strategies.

Dr Collins also devoted significant attention to?battling racial?and?gender disparities?in scientific research, and to reducing 바카라사이트 tendency in grant review processes to?favour cautious and incremental?projects. But he will be leaving with critics ¨C in some instances himself?¨C dissatisfied with 바카라사이트 overall progress in those areas.

He also permitted 바카라사이트 NIH to join a Trump administration crackdown on scientists with ties to China, although he?admitted some concern?over its direction.

And in a reflection of 바카라사이트 NIH¡¯s heavy focus on drugs and devices over more holistic and human behaviour-focused approaches to societal health, Dr Collins repeatedly expressed puzzlement over 바카라사이트 refusal of many Americans to accept scientific advice involving Covid, including wearing masks and getting vaccinated.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com