FAES Lecture and 'Meet & Greet' with Elias Zerhouni, M.D

Dr. Elias Zerhouni, a global leader in biomedical research and policy, delivered a talk titled "Disease Knows No Politics," offering an inside look at his pivotal tenure as the 15th director of the National Institutes of Health from 2002 to 2008. Drawing from his new memoir, Dr. Zerhouni shared key milestones, crucial lessons, and the significant challenges he faced while leading the world's largest biomedical research agency. He recounted the story behind the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research and the landmark passage of the NIH Reform Act of 2006, which helped establish the potent Common Fund to support high-impact, cross-cutting research. He also discussed his efforts to prioritize health gaps and his role in introducing a public access policy for NIH-funded research.

About Dr. Zerhouni

Dr. Zerhouni served as the 15th Director of the NIH from 2002 to 2008. A distinguished radiologist, he pioneered groundbreaking imaging techniques for heart and lung diseases. His notable initiatives at the NIH included the launch of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research and efforts to prioritize health disparities and public access to research.

Beyond his time at the NIH, Dr. Zerhouni has had a remarkable career. He held leadership roles at Johns Hopkins University and served as a presidential science envoy under the Obama administration. He also held a senior fellowship with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and was president of global research and development at Sanofi.

Dr. Zerhouni has worked with FAES in various capacities, and we have been fortunate to receive his counsel on topics of great importance to our organization. He most recently served as a member of our Philanthropic Leadership Committee from 2021 to 2023.

His contributions to science and medicine are extensive; he is the author of 212 publications and holds 8 patents. Most recently, he co-founded ModeX Therapeutics, a biotechnology company acquired by OPKO Health in 2022, where he now serves as president and vice chairman. He has also been a valued member of the FNIH Board of Directors since 2019.