Dr. Francis Collins has been the director of the National Institutes of Health for 12 years. On October 5 he announced he would step down at the end of the year.
The National Institutes of Health will see a leadership change at the end of the year. Dr. Francis Collins announced he would be stepping down as head of the nation’s medical research agency after 12 years, having held the post under Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden.
Before taking the reins at the NIH, doctor Collins was an acclaimed geneticist. He helped discover the gene that causes cystic fibrosis, and led the team that mapped the human genome.
Dr. Collins talked to Diane about the NIH’s successes – and continued challenges – in the fight against Covid-19 and how the rise of partisanship during his tenure has affected medical research. He also addressed the intersection between his Christian faith and career in biomedicine.
As the effects of climate change become increasingly obvious, ideas once thought of as radical are becoming part of the mainstream debate. Cristopher Flavelle of the New York Times explains the promise and perils of geoengineering.
Rethinking leadership in the U.S. African AmericanStudies professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. says Americans have looked to the political class to create a just democracy for too long – and it hasn't worked. In a new book he argues that we are the leaders we have been looking for and explains what that means for the 2024 election.
Menopause. Once a taboo topic, the "m" word is having a moment – among celebrities, in the media, and in Washington, where President Biden recently signed an order that supports research into women's health. Dr. Sharon Malone says it's about time, and explains why understanding "the change" is critical for a woman's ability to get – and stay -- healthy.
Donald Trump regularly ends his rallies with prayer. He has repeatedly compared himself to Jesus. And last week he started selling a version of the Bible. Robert P. Jones of the Public Religion Research Institute weighs in on Trump’s growing embrace of Christianity.