We welcome President Biden’s nomination of Monica Bertagnolli to serve as the director of the National Institutes of Health. Bertagnolli is an innovative leader in oncology clinical research who has, for decades, championed collaborative initiatives to expand access to care and promoted strategies to improve clinical research data infrastructure. She is extremely well-suited to lead the NIH and is held in high regard by her fellow physician-scientists, as evidenced by her election to the National Academy of Medicine.
Her leadership in oncology is well-known to AAU and our member institutions. We look forward to continuing that partnership in her new role to further promote advances in science and medicine and to improve the health of all Americans. Bertagnolli is a graduate of two AAU member institutions – she holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Princeton University and a medical degree from the University of Utah.
We at AAU understand that representation in leadership is key to advancing the causes of diversity and equity in scientific fields, and I am so pleased that Bertagnolli would be only the second woman to lead this critical agency. We encourage the Senate to move quickly to confirm her nomination
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Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of America’s leading research universities. AAU’s 65 research universities transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
Our member universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges, and contributes significantly to our economic strength, while educating and training tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators.
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