American Physiological Society Statement on NIH Director’s Resignation Announcement

Rockville, Md. (October 5, 2021)—Today, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, announced his plans to step down by the end of the year. The American Physiological Society (APS) thanks Collins for his 12 years of service to the scientific community in this role.

NIH is a vital source of funding for research and training, and the agency’s policies shape the scientific workforce and influence the day-to-day work done in labs across the country. During Collins’ tenure, NIH developed initiatives to address major challenges facing the scientific community including sexual harassment; a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the research workforce; and the eroding support for the use of animal models. He navigated these challenges with a focus on the needs of the research community and in collaboration with stakeholders. Under Collins’ leadership the NIH budget grew from $30 billion to $41.3 billion, allowing the agency to tackle pressing scientific questions in new and innovative ways.

“As a champion for science, Dr. Collins’ work will have a lasting legacy on the agency and the biomedical research community,” said APS Chief Science Officer Dennis Brown, PhD, FAPS. “We applaud his tireless work on behalf of the scientific community and his efforts to advance research in the U.S. and around the world.”

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