Like a lot of other research scientists supported by NIH I got an email yesterday from NIH Director Elias Zerhouni announcing his intention to leave his position "to devote much of my attention to writing." At least it wasn't the hackneyed "to spend more time with my family." While Zerhouni won't actually leave until the end of next month, the federal health research establishment is essentially leaderless, awaiting the next administration. The main public health institute within the NIH system, the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has been under "Acting" (although quite capable) for many months after its previous Director resigned under fire (see here, here, here, here and here). That scandal reached all the way to Director Zerhouni's office, although Zerhouni himself left no fingerprints. In any event, his departure is not a surprise. It was widely predicted he would resign over the summer in time to take an academic job. His plans to "devote time to writing" and the timing of the announcement after the start of the academic year suggest he wasn't able to secure a top level academic position.
Zerhouni presided over tumultuous years at NIH. The doubling of the NIH budget in the five years prior to 2003 created a pig in a python effect when the budget flatlined and all the new post docs, graduate students, laboratories and research projects stimulated by the doubling were left high and dry. Now the budget is at about what it was in real dollars before the doubling but there are many more mouths to feed and lab benches to maintain. Basic health research is facing its own financial meltdown as existing grants aren't being renewed and the hands that do the work -- the post docs and graduate students -- are leaving the field and the research programs they were a part of are withering. This is creating a crisis in leadership in academic science in the US, as the post docs leave for other work and the mid level academics coming up for tenure can't get their grants renewed and have to leave their institutions to look for other positions and start over or leave research altogether.
The result will be continued erosion of US leadership in the basic sciences. The current financial crisis and wasteful and atrocious war in Iraq have squandered enormous quantities of federal resources, a small fraction of which could have strengthened the kind of science that would benefit everyone. Instead we will see the basic science foundation of the country weakened.
Zerhouni is getting out while the getting is good.
Medicine & Health
Comments
Zerhouni is a political appointee. He'd have to resign in January anyway. At least one Institute director (NIAAA) also has resigned. Many more resignations will take place as a matter of course. You forget that at least he's no Gerberding.
Posted by: Rich | September 25, 2008 1:03 PM
Rich: Understood. We weren't implying (I hope) that his resignation was forced. He's no Gerberding in another respect. She isn't resigning.
Posted by: revere | September 25, 2008 1:23 PM
Are the days of integrity in government obsolete? Unquestionable if you caught the "performance" by Julie G. and Tommy Thompson on a public health webinar - "The Pandemic Threat: Preparing an Organizational Response" (9/4/08; Logistics Health, Inc.)... What followed was shock and awe by their mutual gushing, but then outrage by TT's introduction of the webinar: "Isn't this exciting?...of course, NOT as exciting as Sara Palin was last night!!!"
Posted by: envolve | September 25, 2008 4:53 PM
Given Dr. Gerberding's proclivity to speak at these private (and profitable) webinars, conferences, and roundtables, do you think I can get her to perform at my son's first birthday party - she can make balloon animals - or maybe my buddy's bachelor party...
Posted by: someone | September 25, 2008 7:09 PM
Her and palin can tag team it... Uh, I gotta sign off now...
Posted by: Anon | September 25, 2008 7:11 PM