On May 31, 2006, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach submitted his resignation as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), effective June 10, 2006. He will continue to serve as acting FDA Commissioner as well as a senior advisor to DHHS Secretary Michael Leavitt while he awaits confirmation. The Secretary has designated Dr. John Niederhuber to be Acting Director of NCI effective immediately upon Dr. von Eschenbach's resignation.

The following memo from Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director of the National Institutes of Health, was shared with all NIH staff. It provides information about the appointment and Dr. Niederhuber's background.

May 31, 2006

TO: IC Directors, OD Senior Staff

FROM: Director, NIH

SUBJECT: Designation of John Niederhuber, M.D., as Acting Director, National Cancer Institute

I am pleased to announce that Secretary Leavitt has designated John Niederhuber, M.D., to serve as Acting Director of the National Cancer Institute, effective June 11. Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach formally submitted his resignation as NCI Director, effective June 10; he will continue to serve as acting FDA Commissioner as well as a senior advisor to Secretary Leavitt while he awaits confirmation.

A distinguished surgeon and researcher with strong ties over many years to the National Cancer Institute as an outside advisor and grant reviewer, Dr. Niederhuber joined the NIH in September 2005 as NCI's Deputy Director for Translational and Clinical Sciences. Immediately before his recruitment to NCI, he chaired the National Cancer Advisory Board. His extensive academic and research career in the cancer field included positions at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University before his most recent position at the University of Wisconsin, where he was Director of the University's Comprehensive Cancer Center. It has been my privilege to work closely with Dr. Niederhuber as he stepped into a leadership role at NCI over these past months. I know that his effective guidance of NCI will continue in the months ahead.

Please join me in congratulating John and offering him full support in his new role at NCI.

Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D.