NIH Director, Not Afraid To Buck the President

Uh-oh, should we prepare to launch a job search for National Institutes of Health Director Elias Zerhouni?

For a second time, Zerhouni is publicly opposing President Bush's policy restricting federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. In a quasi-government magazine arriving in mailboxes this week, Zerhouni suggests embryonic stem cell research should be expanded.

"All avenues of research need to be pursued," Zerhouni says in the newest edition of Medline Plus, a journal published jointly by the NIH and Friends of the National Library of Medicine. He adds: "We must continue the research at all levels, or there will be no progress."

This from a man who serves at the pleasure of President Bush, who has twice vetoed legislation that would do exactly what Zerhouni is espousing: expand research on new embryonic lines.

The last time Zerhouni separated himself from the president's position on stem cell research was last March in testimony before Congress. He emphatically stated that the administration's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research should be lifted. A Congressional Quarterly health care reporter wrote at the time that Zerhouni "perhaps put himself on a path toward unemployment."

But Zerhouni doesn't seem the least bit worried about the prospect of losing his job. The NIH director declined to be interviewed about his opposing views on stem cell research, but we asked his spokesman this question:

Is Dr. Zerhouni worried about getting the ax for speaking out so publicly (a second time) against President Bush's position on stem cell research?

"No," Zerhouni's spokesman, John Burklow, replied. "As the director of the country's primary biomedical research agency, Dr. Zerhouni believes that he serves the president - and the American people - best by providing candid scientific expertise and perspective. He believes his input is appreciated."

Unlike another prominent Bush administration health official who resigned in protest last year, Zerhouni, through his spokesman, says the White House has never tried to tamp down his rhetoric.

We asked Burklow if the White House ever tried to rein in the NIH director's public comments on the topic. "After his March 19th hearing or after subsequent comments in the press, Dr. Zerhouni did not receive any negative feedback or requests that he tone down or change his approach," says Burklow.

That was not the case with former Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who resigned in July 2006, claiming the White House repeatedly blocked him from sharing his expertise on everything from embryonic stem cell research to post traumatic stress disorder, depression and other mental health problems arising from 9/11.

Maybe Zerhouni is the Teflon Don of the Bush administration. Or maybe the lute-and-piano playing top federal scientist ought to tune up his strings and keys - he may need a day job sooner than he thinks.

Or - wait - maybe he's auditioning for a spot in the Democratic Philharmonic Orchestra. Could it be that Zerhouni is trying to curry favor with Democrats in anticipation of a change of power in the White House?

The short answer, according to his spokesman, is "no."

"This question made me laugh," Burklow said. "Dr. Zerhouni would be the last person to try to play Washington that way...His compass is always 'true north.'...He is, foremost, a scientist, not a politician."

Hmmm, is that the world's tiniest lute we hear playing in the background?

UPDATE: WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE

It doesn't sound as if Zerhouni will find himself standing in the bread line any time soon.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto says President Bush doesn't mind Zerhouni's candor on the topic of stem cell research, even if it is an opposing view.

"I don't think it particularly bothers the president," says Fratto. "He's expressing the view that additional stem cell research would be beneficial. We agree."

But only to an extent. The president, Fratto says, "has to draw the line in a different place than Dr. Zerhouni" - from a "broader view" than that of a scientist. Bush's policy takes into account "moral and religious views."

Comments

I think that Zerhouni has two things going for him 1) the NIH is considered a bit of a separate entity within HHS--more of a science campus than a political agency (though admittedly this administration has been horrible with regard to science) and 2) its the end of the administration so changing the director now would only leave the agency rudderless. Who would take the job at this point? It would just be another "acting" person leading a major agency (so many "acting" these days, nothing will get done). And if Bush were so inclined to appoint anyone, can you imagine what the confirmation hearings would be like? Better to let Zerhouni speak out than to draw more attention by firing him.

By the way, this administration cannot end soon enough! We need honest, smart leaders. Two traits not seen in any of this administration's senior personnel.

Posted by: a scientist | October 16, 2007 6:21 PM | Report abuse

The main point of the issue here was only touched on in the very end of the article. No one, including President Bush, disagree's with the claim that embryonic stem cell research has the potential to be beneficial scientifically(cloning humans and using the as test subjects, or harvesting their organs would be "beneficial" to science also).

The president, however, must weigh several other factors that a scientist does not necessarily have to. The moral implications being one. The other major one is the spending implications. The government must choose how to best use its money, and scientific research on stem cells might be best done through private sector research, not government funcding and research.

Bottom line is that I would not expect this person to be fired. The president should use the input from all his/her advisors and make a decision that is best. The president in my opinion has dones that.

Posted by: Paul S | October 17, 2007 12:06 PM | Report abuse

Too bad the president doesn't take "moral and religious views" into account when, say, justifying our entry into a war based on a lie, or deciding to veto health care for children, or selling off our national resources to the highest bidder to drill for oil or mine or sell for lumber, or... You get the idea.

Posted by: Dee | October 17, 2007 12:22 PM | Report abuse

How dare someone suggest that a scientist does not have to take into account the moral implications of their actions. And as far as deciding how best to spend the nation's funding - it is more likely that embryonic stem cell research will be far cheaper than go down roads where we have little to no hope of sucess but we can do nothing else.

Posted by: another scientist | October 17, 2007 2:48 PM | Report abuse

October is the focus on Domistic Violence month. The family tree roots run generations deep. When Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde married and had children, the Leaves of proper love, care and nutrition fell of that branch one at a time. That has made a hole in our nation. Now, we have divided them from the other branches. Our schools have had to add special education classes. Prisons have been built and staffed to hold all of the offenders of "society". Where did all that money to do that come from?? and go??? There are no "R" or "D" 's on this USA family tree of future generations. Not everyone has been blessed with advantages to give to their "young sprouts". Over time we have stunted the growth of this part of society who at one time had the same hopes and dreams that you have. And the "w" needs to be put back on the hole to heal the pain that hurts our whole country. It's a bandaid, but it's a start.
The late Elie Weisel felt his job as a journalist was to speak for those who had no voice. The children in our communities are crying out with their actions. Won't you please speak up and override the President's veto for the good of the whole nation?

Posted by: maryalicesims | October 18, 2007 1:25 PM | Report abuse

Perhaps Bush could imprison him in a tower as the Pope did Galileo.

Posted by: SoonerThought.blogspot.com | October 18, 2007 3:43 PM | Report abuse

Long live freedom of speech and the good doctor. It will come as no suprise to those who care that significant results are being realized in places like China and India utulizing ESC. On American patients by American doctors in foriegn hospitals.
God bless Americans who care.
By the way maryalicesims, Elie Weisel is alive and well.