News and Analysis

Dr. Francis Collins introduced this week that he could be stepping down because the director of the Nationwide Institutes of Well being by the tip of 2021.  

Collins, who was picked for the submit by President Barack Obama in 2009, is the longest-serving presidentially appointed NIH director.  

“It has been an unimaginable privilege to steer this nice company for greater than a decade,” mentioned Collins in a press release. “I’m happy with all we’ve completed. I essentially consider, nonetheless, that no single individual ought to serve within the place too lengthy, and that it’s time to usher in a brand new scientist to steer the NIH into the long run.”  

Throughout his time heading NIH, Collins oversaw a dramatic enlargement of its funds, in addition to establishing initiatives to deal with Alzheimer’s illness, most cancers, opioid use dysfunction, uncommon illnesses and the novel coronavirus.   

The company fashioned a number of main public-private partnerships, together with its work with Moderna to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.  

NIH throughout Collins’ tenure additionally launched the All of Us Analysis Program, which now consists of information from greater than 300,000 individuals – 80% of whom are members of teams underrepresented in medical analysis.   

As well as, it sought to make use of new applied sciences to know the neuronal networks of the mind through the Mind Analysis via Advancing Revolutionary Neurotechnologies Initiative beneath the Obama administration.  

Together with then-Vice President Joe Biden, Collins helped jumpstart the Most cancers Moonshot Initiative to speed up the supply of efficient most cancers prevention methods, diagnostics and coverings.  

As famous by STAT, Collins’ departure might increase questions on the way forward for the Superior Analysis Undertaking Company for Well being. Proposed as a part of President Biden’s funds, ARPA-H is meant to drive transformational innovation in well being analysis.  

NIH informed The Washington Submit that no choice has but been made on an interim director.

Collins directed the Nationwide Human Genome Analysis Institute from 1993 via 2008, the place he led the worldwide Human Genome Undertaking.   

He’ll proceed to steer his analysis laboratory there, which is pursuing questions on Sort 2 diabetes and Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome.  

“Few individuals might come wherever near reaching in a lifetime what Dr. Collins has on the helm of NIH,” mentioned U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers Secretary Xavier Becerra in a press release.

“It takes a rare individual to deal with the most important scientific challenges dealing with our nation – and beneath three presidents, amidst three distinctly totally different chapters of American historical past.  

“Dr. Collins, grasp of scientific breakthroughs and scientific motive – from mapping the human genome to preventing probably the most devastating pandemic of a century – has routinely damaged floor to avoid wasting numerous lives, whereas unleashing innovation to learn humanity for generations to return,” he mentioned.

Kat Jercich is senior editor of Healthcare IT Information.
Twitter: @kjercich
E mail: kjercich@himss.org
Healthcare IT Information is a HIMSS Media publication.