Author Archive

Dr. Francis Collins

Dr. Francis Collins

Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In that role he oversees the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, spanning the spectrum from basic to clinical research. Dr. Collins is a physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international Human Genome Project, which culminated in April 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human DNA instruction book. He served as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the NIH from 1993-2008.
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In that role he oversees the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, spanning the spectrum from basic to clinical research. Dr. Collins is a physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international Human Genome Project, which culminated in April 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human DNA instruction book. He served as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the NIH from 1993-2008.
Management

Most Vaccine-Hesitant People Remain Willing to Change Their Minds

A new study shows people's views are not set in stone. The director of the National Institutes of Health explains.

Management

Infections with ‘U.K. Variant’ B.1.1.7 Have Greater Risk of Mortality

Now is not the time to get complacent, says NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins. This devastating pandemic isn’t over yet.

Management

Study of Healthcare Workers Shows COVID-19 Immunity Lasts Many Months

In the rare instances in which someone with acquired immunity for SARS-CoV-2 subsequently tested positive for the virus, they never showed any signs of being ill.

Management

Face Coverings Could Save 130,000 American Lives from COVID-19 by March

A powerful new study models just how critical this simple, low-cost step will be this winter and through the course of this pandemic.

Tech

Researchers Publish Encouraging Early Data on COVID-19 Vaccine

The director of the National Institutes of Health is "confident that we will be able rise to the challenge of ending this pandemic that has devastated so many lives."

Management

Meet the Researcher Leading NIH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Development Efforts

A conversation with Dr. John Mascola, director of the vaccine research center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Management

The Critical Need for Reliable Antibody Testing for COVID-19

While there are some good tests out there, not all are equally reliable, the director of the National Institutes of Health explains.

Management

The Challenge of Tracking COVID-19’s Stealthy Spread

New studies indicate just how difficult containment efforts are likely to be.

Tech

Genomic Study Points to Natural Origin of COVID-19

No, the virus was not engineered in a lab. The director of the National Institutes of Health debunks the claim and explains what scientists know about the novel coronavirus.

Management

To Beat COVID-19, Social Distancing is a Must

The director of the National Institutes of Health describes a new study, which shows that simply avoiding symptomatic people will not go far enough to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Management

Discovering the Brain’s Nightly 'Rinse Cycle'

The director of the National Institutes of Health explains why getting restful sleep is essential for your mental and physical health.

Management

Structural Biology Points Way to Coronavirus Vaccine

The director of the National Institutes of Health explains promising developments in the efforts to deal with the novel coronavirus spreading across the globe.

Management

Why When You Eat Might Be as Important as What You Eat

An NIH-funded study showed that participants who limited daily food intake to a 10-hour period lost on average 3 percent of their weight and about 3 percent of their abdominal fat.

Management

It's Time to End the 'Manel' Tradition of All-Male Speaking Panels

"It is not enough to give lip service to equality; leaders must demonstrate their commitment through their actions," says Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health.

Management

Possible Explanation for Why Some People Get More Colds

NIH-funded researchers have uncovered some new clues.

Management

How Sleep Resets the Brain

The next time someone tells you to “sleep on it,” that’s probably good advice.

Management

It’s Not Your Imagination: Social Media Is Making Us Lonelier

A new NIH-funded study suggests that Facebook and other apps make many feel left out and alone.

Management

Expanding the Reach of Precision Medicine

A bold blueprint for building a national research cohort.

Management

President’s Visit to NIH Highlights Research on Ebola

How scientists are pulling together to tackle this urgent threat.