Mountain State Times

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, representing West Virginia and serving as the chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, has announced her support for Jay Bhattacharya as the new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Capito expressed her readiness to collaborate with Bhattacharya to enhance America's health through medical research. She stated: "As Chairman of the Senate’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, I have worked closely with past NIH Directors and look forward to working with Director Bhattacharya on our shared goal of making America healthy again through medical research." She further emphasized Bhattacharya's understanding of the field due to his background in medical research.

Senator Capito highlighted her vote in favor of his confirmation and anticipated advancements under his leadership. "I was pleased to vote to confirm him and look forward to the progress he will make modernizing NIH to best meet the health care challenges facing our nation, enabling the next lifesaving medical breakthroughs," she remarked.

Earlier this year in February, Capito met with Bhattacharya to discuss his nomination and understand his vision for leading NIH.