On Tuesday, March 25, the US Senate confirmed Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian American professor at Stanford School of Medicine, as the new Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He was confirmed with a close vote of 53-47 in the first session of the roll call vote during the 119th Congress.
Bhattacharya’s appointment is an important moment for the NIH, as he takes on a key leadership role at the agency.
Bhattacharya is an expert in health policy and has a strong background in medical research and economics. He is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a senior fellow at several Stanford institutions, including the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and the Hoover Institution.
His work focuses on government programs, biomedical innovation, and economic principles. He also leads Stanford’s Centre for Demography and Economics of Health and Ageing.
After Bhattacharya’s confirmation, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky praised his medical research experience and leadership skills. McConnell said, “With an extensive background in medical research, I expect @DrJBhattacharya to provide sound leadership at the @NIH.”
Voted today to confirm Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. With an extensive background in medical research, I expect @DrJBhattacharya to provide sound leadership at the @NIH. pic.twitter.com/R9E2NSBPj1
— U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) March 25, 2025
One of Bhattacharya’s most well-known contributions is his involvement in the Great Barrington Declaration, which he co-wrote in October 2020. The declaration suggested an alternative approach to the COVID-19 lockdowns, recommending focused protection for vulnerable people instead.
His research has been published in many journals covering areas like economics, statistics, law, medical research, public health, and health policy.
As the new head of the NIH, Bhattacharya will work with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was confirmed as the Secretary of Health and Human Services in February. Together, they plan to restore the NIH to a high standard of medical research.
Bhattacharya’s confirmation follows the Senate’s vote in February to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, known for his views against vaccines, was confirmed by a vote of 52-48. Bhattacharya’s appointment to lead the NIH is seen as an important step in shaping the future of medical research in the United States.
