Jay Bhattacharya Nomination Advances To Full Senate Vote

Photo: Stanford University

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – On March 13, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions voted to advance Dr. Jay Bhattacharya’s nomination to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The vote passed narrowly along party lines, with 12 votes in favor and 11 opposed. Bhattacharya’s nomination proceeded with only Republican support. This vote marks the final step before Bhattacharya can become the next NIH director.

Senator Bernie Sanders, (I-VT), expressed concerns about Bhattacharya’s stance on prescription drug costs, fearing he would not take enough action to reduce prices. Other Democrats also voiced apprehension about how Bhattacharya might approach medical research at the NIH.

Bhattacharya did not directly oppose the potential cuts to NIH funding but emphasized that, if confirmed, he would “follow the law.” He pledged to assess the impact of any cuts and ensure that NIH researchers have the resources they need to advance public health.

Before his confirmation hearings, Bhattacharya, alongside several other scientists, launched the Journal of the Academy of Public Health. This new research journal aims to foster scientific dialogue and combat what Bhattacharya sees as “gatekeeping” in the medical community by publishing peer reviews of studies that other journals keep private.

A physician, professor at Stanford University, and senior fellow at the Institute for Economic Policy Research, Bhattacharya gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for his opposition to lockdown measures and vaccine mandates.