Acting head of NIH’s infectious disease institute reported to have stepped down
statnews.com • • general
Key Points:
- Jeffery Taubenberger has stepped down as acting head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), as revealed by Sen. Tammy Baldwin during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.
- Taubenberger had been serving in the acting leadership role since April 2025, but the exact timing and reasons for his departure remain unclear.
- Rumors about his resignation began circulating in infectious disease research circles about two weeks ago, though NIAID staff have not been officially informed.
- The Department of Health and Human Services has not responded to multiple inquiries regarding Taubenberger’s status.
- This departure adds to the ongoing leadership vacancies at the National Institutes of Health.