US NIH director Bhattacharya to temporarily run CDC

Dr. Bhattacharya, director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), has been appointed to temporarily oversee the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, effective immediately, as the agency undergoes a leadership transition. The temporary assignment comes as the CDC searches for a permanent director to replace the outgoing leadership, creating a period of interim management at one of the nation's most critical public health agencies. As NIH director, Dr. Bhattacharya will now be responsible for overseeing both premier US health research institutions simultaneously during this transition period. The CDC, responsible for protecting public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury and disability, has faced numerous challenges in recent years including pandemic response and public health emergencies that require steady leadership.