David A. Schwartz, M.D., to Join
NIH in May
National Institutes of Health Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D.,
today confirmed that David A. Schwartz, M.D., who was named new
director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) on October 25,
2004, will begin his appointment on Monday, May 23.
"I am very much looking forward to David joining us," Dr.
Zerhouni said. "I am pleased that we have been able to conclude
his recruitment and address his concerns regarding the interim
rules
on stock divestitures. When I speak of NIH's need to attract the
best and the brightest scientists, David is a prime example of
the scientist I am talking about. He is one of the world's outstanding
researchers in environmental health."
"I am honored to step into the leadership of the NIEHS and
look forward to the work ahead," said Dr. Schwartz. "My
concerns about the conflict of interest rules have been heard and
are being seriously considered and addressed. I will work with
Dr. Zerhouni and others at the NIH to ensure the careful handling
of real conflicts of interests among our employees, while treating
all of our employees reasonably and fairly."
Dr. Schwartz is currently director of the Pulmonary, Allergy,
and Critical Care Division and Vice Chair of Research in the
Department of Medicine at Duke University. At Duke, Dr. Schwartz
played a principal role in developing three interdisciplinary
Centers in Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Genomics,
and Environmental Asthma.
As NIEHS director, Dr. Schwartz will oversee a $711 million budget
that funds multidisciplinary biomedical research programs, prevention,
and intervention efforts that encompass training, education,
technology transfer, and community outreach. NIEHS is located
in Research Triangle Park, near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill,
North Carolina. NIEHS currently supports more than 850 research
grants.
Dr. Schwartz received his B.A. Degree in Biology from the University
of Rochester in 1975, his M.D. from the University of California-San
Diego in 1979, and his M.P.H. from Harvard School of Public Health
in 1985.
Dr. Schwartz is a co-author of more than 150 research papers,
38 book chapters, and a textbook. He has served on numerous study
sections, is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation
and the Association of the American Physicians, and in 2003,
received the American Thoracic Society Scientific Achievement
Award.
NIEHS has supported Dr. Schwartz's research since 1990.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The
mission of NIEHS is to reduce the burden of human illness and
dysfunction from environmental causes by understanding each of
these elements and how they interrelate. More information about
NIEHS can be found at http://www.niehs.nih.gov.
The National Toxicology Program serves the federal regulatory
health agencies with its findings and the publication of the
federal Report on Carcinogens, on behalf of the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
The NIH comprises the Office of the Director and 27 Institutes
and Centers and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures
for both common and rare diseases. The Office of the Director
is the central office at NIH, and is responsible for setting
policy for NIH and for planning, managing, and coordinating the
programs and activities of all the NIH components. The NIH is
a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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