House Subcommittee Holds Hearing with NIH Director

On November 19, 2024, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies convened a hearing with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli. AACOM continues to work with congressional champions to ensure the elimination of longstanding disparities in NIH funding for and representation from osteopathic medicine. To learn more about this hearing, please review AACOM’s comprehensive analysis and see below for key takeaways.

• Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) raised concerns about the NIH's operational inefficiencies and public trust, proposing a reduction of the 27 institutes and centers to 15 to streamline the agency's structure.
• Dr. Bertagnolli outlined plans to restore trust in the NIH, asserting that credibility is built by solving community-relevant problems and effectively communicating the agency's impact.
• Key initiatives include embedding the NIH in every community through partnerships, creating an active speaker bureau to engage with the public nationwide and emphasizing programs like "CARE for Health," which aims to enhance clinical trial accessibility in rural and underserved areas. She stressed that rebuilding trust requires a grassroots approach, ensuring the public feels directly involved in the NIH's mission and priorities.
• President-elect Trump has announced that he intends to nominate Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PHD, to address the future direction of NIH. Dr. Bhattacharya’s nomination requires Senate confirmation.