Posted on 05/01/2025 6:25:12 AM PDT by logi_cal869
A virologist who supports gain-of-function research and believes COVID-19 evolved naturally is the new acting director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the agency Dr. Anthony Fauci led for 38 years.
Jeffery Taubenberger, M.D., Ph.D., a 19-year veteran of NIAID and chief of the institute’s Viral Pathogenesis and Evolution Section, replaced Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, who was placed on leave last month by the Trump administration.
Citing an email from Dr. Matthew Memoli, deputy director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Science reported that Taubenberger’s first day as acting director was April 25. Taubenberger will head an institute with a $6.56 billion budget, making it the second-largest NIH branch, overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Several researchers told Science that Taubenberger has a commendable track record, highlighting his work sequencing the Spanish flu virus of 1918.
Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Ph.D., a virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, said Taubenberger “has made many critical contributions to the field of influenza, both in pathogenesis, animal models, human data, and vaccines.”
But critics point to Taubenberger’s public support of gain-of-function research and the zoonotic theory of COVID-19’s origins, which holds that the virus crossed over naturally from animals to humans.
They also criticized his past ties to Fauci and other controversial virologists, and his prior work on COVID-19 vaccines.
(Excerpt) Read more at childrenshealthdefense.org ...
Agreed.
I’m a bit angered that the only job cuts - “acute attrition” is the preferred label - we hear about are from DOGE.
His cabinet picks should be CLEANING HOUSE!!!
Yeah. It's all Trump's fault that this guy was in line to become acting director.
Well, now. What do we have here?
You might soon learn to regret using that term with me to defend your confirmation bias.
Have a nice day! 😊
What confirmation bias? My issue with you is the notion that this is all Trump’s fault. I am not defending the acting director, just explaining how it works in the government. When someone leaves, the next in line becomes acting by default. It takes positive action to overturn that. It is unfortunately the law.
Cite where I stated “TRUMP’S FAULT”
Trump's enemies would love him to fire RFK and if he is that stupid I would begin to question my support for him, but he is not.
An executive delegates and eventually replaces nonperformers.
He may have a lot on his plate, but no: I never stated that. You’re literally putting words in my mouth.
If I had to lay fault/blame, it lies squarely at the feet of his advisors who should certainly be advising him of his cabinet’s missteps, rfk jr among them.
His cabinet needs some motivation; someone needs to be sacrificed (rather than ‘promoted’).
If you think RFK jr is the weak link here then you are utterly delusional to the point where I suspect you may be a paid shill of big Pharma.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Show me his list of ‘accomplishments’ which put big pharma in their place.
Troll.
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