CLS Urges Rapid Confirmation of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli for NIH Director

October 16, 2023

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Chairman Sanders, and Ranking Member Cassidy,

The Coalition for the Life Sciences (CLS) is very pleased that the HELP Committee will soon hold a hearing on Dr. Monica Bertagnolli’s confirmation to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). On behalf of the CLS, I write to affirm with greatest enthusiasm our support for Dr. Bertagnolli and to urge her rapid confirmation. Especially after enduring a long period without a permanent director, it is urgent to place a strong leader at the helm of this critical agency as expeditiously as possible. Dr. Bertagnolli has the vision and leadership skills necessary to ensure scientific integrity and pioneering research. 

As a leading scientist, clinical trialist, physician, and surgeon — and a patient herself — Dr. Bertagnolli brings great breadth, sophistication, and deep understanding to the imperative for fundamental basic research as the essential driver for understanding disease mechanisms and deriving effective treatments, and ultimately the human dimension of medical research. Dr. Bertagnolli will provide the experience and leadership essential for NIH to maintain its primacy in knowledge discovery and innovative translation to address disease and advance public health. The United States is the world’s preeminent center for biomedical, behavioral, and social science research power, and the NIH, under bipartisan support from Congress, is central to this history and to our future.

Over its history, NIH has been led by exceptional leaders. The CLS is fully confident that Dr. Bertagnolli will extend the legacy of visionary leadership that will enable NIH to continue and enhance its sterling record of discovery and translation. The CLS urges the Senate to confirm Dr. Bertagnolli with all deliberate speed as the next Director of the NIH.

We would be pleased to provide further information or advice as may be deemed helpful throughout this process.

On behalf of the CLS Board of Directors,

Keith R. Yamamoto, Ph.D.
Chair, Coalition for the Life Sciences
President, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and Strategy, UCSF
Director, UCSF Precision Medicine
Professor, Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology

Download a PDF of the letter