the International AIDS Society (IAS) has welcomed the appointment of Jeanne Marrazzo as Director of America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Dr Marrazzo, currently Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is recognized worldwide for her research and education efforts in the field of sexually transmitted infections and HIV prevention, especially as they affect women’s health.
She will take the reins at NIAID later this year, replacing Anthony Fauci, who served as Director for 38 years until December 2022. With a budget of USD 6.5 billion for 2023, NIAID supports research to advance the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of infectious, immunologic and allergic diseases.
“We congratulate Jeanne on her appointment,” IAS President Sharon Lewin said. “She is the first woman to fill this position and she brings invaluable experience and a broad perspective that can only enrich the work of NIAID. At the IAS, we look forward to maintaining and building our long-standing, fruitful relationship with NIAID under her leadership.”
Dr Marrazzo’s research in discovery and implementation science has focused on: the human microbiome, specifically as it relates to female reproductive tract infections and hormonal contraception; prevention of HIV acquisition using biomedical interventions, including pre-exposure prophylaxis and microbicides; and the pathogenesis and management of bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted diseases in people living with HIV, and antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea.
She has been a principal investigator on NIH grants since 1997 and contributes a wealth of leadership experience from heading international clinical trials and translational research. Dr Marrazzo has received the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association’s Distinguished Career Award, the highest recognition of contributions to research and mentoring in the field.
