Jay Bhattacharya appointed as director of National Institutes of Health in Trump administration

Jay Bhattacharya has been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump as the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This marks Bhattacharya as the first Indian-American nominated for a senior position in Trump's administration. Previously, Trump appointed Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, a role that does not require Senate confirmation. Bhattacharya's nomination is expected to focus on improving health research and addressing major health challenges in the U.S. Bhattacharya is a professor at Stanford University and has extensive experience in health policy and research. He has worked on issues affecting vulnerable populations and is known for co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration in 2020.