National Institutes of Health administrator Lawrence Tabak will serve as interim director of the federal science agency after Francis Collins steps down later this month, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced yesterday (December 9).
“Dr. Tabak’s long tenure and broad experience at the NIH will ensure that the agency is in capable hands and serve it well during the search for Dr. Collins’ successor,” HHS Secretary Secretary Xavier Becerra says in the announcement. “Dr. Tabak has a deep grasp of the most pressing scientific issues confronting our nation, he has earned respect across NIH as a thoughtful and strategic manager and is committed to building a healthier and more equitable America.”
The appointment follows Collins’s announcement in October that he would step down as NIH director. Collins has held the position for more than 12 years, serving under three US presidents. His permanent successor will need to ...
