Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall participated in the confirmation hearing for Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Donald Trump's nominee for Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The hearing took place in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Dr. Bhattacharya is a professor at Stanford University, specializing in health policy. He has published extensively on vulnerable populations and has recently focused on COVID-19 epidemiology and policy responses.

During the hearing, Senator Marshall questioned Dr. Bhattacharya about scientific progress and strategies to address America's chronic disease epidemic. On scientific progress, Dr. Bhattacharya emphasized humility: "We have to as scientists say we might be wrong... It’s only if I’m confirmed as NIH Director, I want to make sure that all the range of hypotheses are supported."

Addressing chronic diseases, Senator Marshall noted that 60% of Americans suffer from them and criticized NIH's spending priorities. Dr. Bhattacharya agreed with the need for better research: "The mission of the NIH is to address the health needs... We need to allow other scientists who have other ideas, and food as medicine might be one of them, to have support."

Senator Marshall sought commitment from Dr. Bhattacharya on addressing chronic diseases, to which he responded: "I absolutely am... If I’m confirmed, I absolutely commit to you."