If confirmed, Jay Bhattacharya woud lead the largest backer of biomedical research in the world.
NIH funds nearly $48 billion in scientific research through about 50,000 grants to more than 300,000 researchers at 2,500 hospitals, universities and other institutions.
A few takeaways from the hearing:
1. Bhattacharya ‘convinced’ vaccines don’t cause autism but open to more research on the matter
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La) asked Bhattacharya if he believed there is connection between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. He mentioned the recent outbreak of measles cases in Texas that has resulted in the death of one unvaccinated child.
Bhattacharya said he thinks NIH has “good data” on the MMR vaccine and does not believe there is a link between the vaccine and autism.
But, he added, he supports the agency funding more research into trying to figure out why autism cases are increasing in the U.S. and if vaccines are related to any rise.
2. Supports reinstating ban on aborted fetal tissue use in NIH research
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) asked Bhattacharya if he would support the reinstatement of a policy enacted during Trump’s first term that barred NIH funds from being used to purchase aborted fetal tissue for research.
Bhattacharya said he would follow Trump and head of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s lead on the matter, adding he believes NIH should make sure products of science are “ethically acceptable to everyone.”
Many in the scientific community consider the use of fetal tissue or cells derived from fetal tissue critical for biomedical research, and some vaccines have been developed with the help of cell lines created from fetal cells.
3. Shied away from speaking on NIH firings, grant freeze
Senators asked Bhattacharya if he supported the Trump administration’s recent firing of NIH staff and grant freezes. He did not give a direct answer and instead repeatedly said he was not involved in those decisions.
“I was not involved in those decisions and if I get confirmed as NIH director I fully commit to making sure that all the scientists at the NIH and the scientists the NIH supports have all the resources they need to meet the mission of the NIH,” he said.
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