Senate HELP Committee to Hold Hearing on NIH Nomination

Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) released a statement indicating that the committee will hold a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Monica Bertagnolli, MD, to be the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director in October. This statement is the first mention of the Senate moving forward with the nomination since President Biden announced Dr. Bertagnolli as the nominee to lead the NIH in May. There has not been an announcement of an exact date of the hearing in October.

Previously Sen. Sanders had stated he would not progress with the nomination pending drug pricing negotiations. The HELP Committee statement reflects that Sen. Sanders has received a commitment from the White House, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to continue to work toward lowering prescription drug prices. Sen. Elizabeth Warren also recently agreed to support Dr. Bertagnolli’s nomination, after she pledged to not seek employment or compensation from any of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies for four years once she leaves the government.

Dr. Bertagnolli currently serves as the Director of the National Cancer Institute, one of the 27 institutes and centers of the NIH. The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) previously joined 115 organizations in a letter of support of her to lead the NIH.

For more information, contact Katie Grady, ACR Government Affairs Director.