Trump names Jay Bhattacharya as new head of National Institutes of Health

President-elect Donald Trump has named Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as the new Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This position oversees the U.S. government's main medical research funding agency, which has a budget of about $47.3 billion. Dr. Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor and critic of COVID-19 lockdowns, will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to enhance the NIH's research standards. His focus will include addressing chronic health issues in the U.S. Born in Kolkata, India, Dr. Bhattacharya has extensive academic credentials, including a medical degree and a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford. He has published numerous articles on health policy and the impact of government programs.