Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., the director of the National Institutes of Health, September 24 announced his plans to step down at the end of October 2008 to pursue writing projects and explore other professional opportunities.
Dr. Zerhouni, a physician scientist and world-renowned leader in radiology research, has served as NIH director since May 2002. He led the agency through a challenging period that required innovative solutions to transform basic and clinical research into tangible benefits for patients and their families. One of the hallmarks of his tenure is the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, launched in 2003, after extensive consultations with the scientific community. The NIH Roadmap brought together all of the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers to fund compelling research initiatives that could have a major impact on science, but that no single institute could tackle alone.
Dr. Zerhouni also launched new programs to encourage high-risk innovative research, such as the Director’s Pioneer Awards and New Innovator Awards, and focused especially on the need to support new investigators and foster their independence. During his tenure, Zerhouni worked to lower barriers between disciplines of science and encourage trans-NIH collaborations. For a more complete overview of Dr. Zerhouni and his contribution to the NIH, please see the related press release.
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