The doctor nominated to lead the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) vowed to lawmakers on Oct. 18 to serve the public, and not pharmaceutical companies, if she is confirmed to the post.
“I will act with the goal of the very best interest of the American people if confirmed for this job,” Dr. Monica Bertagnolli told senators during questioning on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Dr. Bertagnolli, 64, pointed to an unpublished agreement with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) that she described as including a promise not to join a major pharmaceutical firm within four years of leaving the government.
“Our country relies on its public officials to have their best interests in mind when performing their duties as public servants,” Mr. Braun asked. “How can the American people be sure that, as NIH director, you would be focused on the job at hand, rather than boosting the business of any past associates in the pharmaceutical industry?”
Dr. Bertagnolli said most of the funding supported research, although she did receive a payment directly from one unnamed firm for sitting on its board of directors while she was employed by Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Concerns About Revolving Door
Mr. Braun later raised the reported agreement between Dr. Bertagnolli and Ms. Warren, which hasn’t yet been made public.Activists and some officials have raised concerns about top U.S. officials coming to the job with ties to major pharmaceutical companies, and top officials often joining the firms after leaving government.
Dr. Doran Fink, for instance, a top U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientist who worked on COVID-19 vaccine emergency authorizations, left the agency in late 2022 and joined Moderna, which makes one of the vaccines.
Alex Azar, the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—which includes the Food and Drug Administration and the NIH—joined the Trump administration from Eli Lilly.
Dr. Bertagnolli, who has directed the NIH’s National Cancer Institute since 2022, appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for a confirmation hearing.
The NIH currently has an acting director, Dr. Lawrence Tabak.
Dr. Bertagnolli said in her opening statement that, if confirmed, she would work “every day to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness for all Americans.” She also said she would work to “restore faith and trust in our nation’s top scientists.”
“Any research that we do, senator, with regard to human subjects has to be done in a way that does no harm and produces the maximum benefit to the people that are participating in the research—and that will be the principle with which I approach any research, especially for this vulnerable population,” she said.
Ethics and Oversight
Dr. Bertagnolli also said she would maintain the current policy on fetal tissue research from the Biden administration, which lifted a ban on NIH researchers using the tissue and removed an ethical review for outside researchers. Dr. Bertagnolli said the tissue should only be used as a last resort.Due to the stonewalling, House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) on Oct. 13 announced he'd issued a subpoena for records that could provide answers.
“NIH continues to refuse to comply with our investigation and suspiciously defends this potential federal records violation. Today’s subpoena is another step in our pursuit to hold NIH and Dr. Morens accountable,” Dr. Wenstrup said in a statement.
Dr. Bertagnolli told senators, “I can reassure you that I take Congress’ responsibility for oversight for the NIH—and, if confirmed, my responsibility as director of the NIH, to be compliant with policies regarding that oversight—extremely seriously.”
