President Biden announced the appointment of Jeanne M. Marrazzo, MD, as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Marrazzo is currently the director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is expected to begin her role as NIAID director in the fall. Dr. Marrazzo’s appointment does not require Senate confirmation.
The appointment comes approximately eight months after longtime institute director Anthony Fauci, MD, retired from federal service.
Dr. Marrazzo’s research has focused on the human microbiome, prevention of HIV infection using biomedical interventions, including PrEP and microbicides; and the pathogenesis and management of bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted diseases in HIV-infected persons and management of antibiotic resistance in gonorrhea. She received the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association’s Distinguished Career Award, the highest recognition of contributions to research and mentoring in the field.