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People in the News

September/October 2026 | Volume 25 Number 5

Cho heads National Human Genome Research Institute

Judy H. Cho, MD, assumed the role of Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in August. Prior to NIH, Cho focused on advancing translational genetics programs and fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations in her roles as Senior Associate Dean for Translational Genetics and Ward-Coleman Professor in Translational Genetics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She also served as Director of the Sanford J. Grossman Center for Integrative Studies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Director of the Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine within the Mount Sinai Health System. Cho earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and an MD from The Ohio State University. Then she completed her residency in internal medicine at Northwestern University and additional training in gastroenterology at the University of Chicago. Cho, whose research focuses on the genetics and biology of inflammatory bowel disease, has served as Principal Investigator of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases-supported Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium since 2002.

Gaitanis helms Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development

The new director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is John Gaitanis, MD. A pediatric neurologist, Gaitanis brings nearly three decades of clinical and administrative leadership experience to this role. Prior to joining NIH, he served as Chief of Child Neurology at Tufts Medical Center and Director of Child Neurology at Brown Medical School. Throughout his career, he has expanded access to care and educated physicians to better support non-speaking individuals with autism. Gaitanis specializes in epilepsy and autism. He began his medical education at Dartmouth Medical School and completed it at Brown Medical School. Next, he fulfilled his residency training in pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical School and in neurology at Harvard Medical School's Boston Children’s Hospital. He later completed a fellowship in epilepsy and neurophysiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center through Harvard Medical School.

Aklin assumes top role at National Institute of Nursing Research

Courtney F. Aklin, PhD, is the Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) following her service there as Acting Director since April 2025. During her stewardship, NINR strengthened its focus on advancing solutions-oriented nursing research that translates scientific discoveries into practical improvements in health, healthcare delivery, and health outcomes. Aklin brings more than two decades of leadership experience across NIH to her new role. She held a range of senior positions, including NINR Deputy Director, Acting Associate Deputy Director of NIH, and Senior Advisor in the NIH Immediate Office of the Director, where she counseled leaders on research strategy, organizational priorities, and complex enterprise-wide initiatives that strengthened operations and scientific coordination across NIH. Aklin earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Psychology from the University of Richmond. She is an expert in behavioral and translational science.

Embí leads National Library of Medicine

Peter Embí, MD, became the new Director of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in September. Embí is credited as a founder of the field of clinical research informatics and originated the concept of algorithmovigilance, the systematic evaluation and monitoring of AI in health care. Prior to joining NLM, Embí served as a tenured professor of biomedical informatics and internal medicine and the Endowed Director of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. There, he also served as chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics, Senior Vice-President for Research and Innovation, and founding Director of the ADVANCE AI Center. Previous appointments include President and CEO of the Regenstrief Institute; Vice-President for Learning Health Systems at IU Health; Professor and Associate Dean at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis; and Professor, Vice-Chair of biomedical informatics and the nation’s first Chief Research Information Officer at The Ohio State University. Embí earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, and his medical doctorate from the University of South Florida in Tampa. He completed his internal medicine residency in medical informatics and clinical epidemiology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and then trained in rheumatology and immunology at the Cleveland Clinic. Embí is president of the American College of Medical Informatics.

Weber directs National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

In August, Wendy J. Weber, ND, PhD, MPH, was named Director of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Weber originally joined NCCIH in 2009 as a Program Director, and, since October 2025, she’s served as the center’s Acting Deputy Director. In that role, she has provided scientific leadership and strategic counsel, contributed to budget and organizational planning, and partnered with senior leadership to ensure continuity. For over 15 years, she has held several leadership roles at NCCIH, including Acting Director of the Division of Extramural Research, Chief of Clinical Research in the Complementary and Integrative Health Branch, and scientific leader of the multi-IC NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory. Prior to joining NIH, she was the first naturopathic physician to receive an NIH career development award, supporting her clinical research on botanical interventions at Bastyr University. Weber earned a doctorate of philosophy in epidemiology and a master of public health from the University of Washington, before completing her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) from Bastyr University.

Burke heads National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Jonathan E. Burke, DMD, has been tapped to lead the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). A practicing dentist, Burke served as the Medical Director of an oral and maxillofacial consulting firm in Philadelphia. Burke is a leader in craniofacial trauma and cleft palate reconstruction. His research aims to understand the oral-systemic health connection, advance regenerative science, harness technological innovation, and evaluate modern trends in dental care. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Temple University School of Dentistry. NIDCR’s new director earned his degrees from Temple University School of Pharmacy and Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry.

Denny leaves All of Us, search for a new CEO begins

After nearly seven years as Chief Executive Officer of NIH’s All of Us Research Program, Joshua Denny, MD, is departing NIH to accept a new position at the University of Chicago. Denny helped engage nearly 900,000 participant partners to build the largest integrated genomic and electronic health record dataset in biomedical history. Under his leadership, All of Us also delivered the world’s largest return of individual genetic results to over 277,000 participants, including providing more than 5,620 participants with potentially life-saving insights across actionable genes and over 158,000 participants with results that inform medication response. “Dr. Denny’s leadership transformed a bold concept into the world’s most comprehensive and accessible biomedical research platform,” wrote NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.

Updated September 28, 2026

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