With NIH in chaos, its controversial director is taking over CDC, too

In a surprising turn of events, Jay Bhattacharya, the head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has stepped into the role of acting director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This unusual dual appointment has sparked immediate backlash from researchers and public health advocates, who are concerned about the implications for the agency's integrity and effectiveness. Bhattacharya's new responsibilities come during a tumultuous period at the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance. This marks the third leadership change at the CDC under Kennedy's administration. Previously, Susan Monarez, a microbiologist and seasoned federal health official, briefly held the acting director position before being replaced after a month. Monarez alleges her dismissal was due to her refusal to endorse changes to vaccine guidelines proposed by Kennedy’s advisors, who have a strong anti-vaccine bias. Following Monarez, Jim O’Neill took over as acting director. O’Neill, who had a background in Silicon Valley as an investor, approved significant modifications to the CDC's childhood vaccination protocols during his tenure. However, he has since departed from the CDC and is reportedly in line for a nomination to lead the National Science Foundation, which currently lacks both a director and deputy director. While Bhattacharya, a health economist with a medical degree, brings a level of expertise that may be beneficial for the CDC, his leadership has come under scrutiny. Critics point to his administration at the NIH, which has seen the cancellation or freezing of substantial research funding, including a staggering $561 million earmarked for studying the leading causes of death in the United States, as highlighted in a recent Senate report. Furthermore, over 300 clinical trials have faced defunding under his watch, and a significant number of NIH institutes are currently without directors, marking an unprecedented leadership vacuum.