News Brief

Anthony Fauci Stepping Down

On August 22, 2022, Anthony Fauci announced that he will be stepping down in December 2022 as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, and Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden.

He stated that he is not retiring but plans to pursue the next phase of his career and use what he has learned as NIAID director to continue to advance science and public health and to inspire and mentor the next generation of scientific leaders as they help prepare the world to face future infectious disease threats. Fauci, who is 81 years old, has spent 54 years at NIH, 38 as the NIAID director, advising seven U.S. Presidents and reassuring the public as America’s doctor during outbreaks of infectious diseases on newly emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats including HIV/AIDS, West Nile virus, the anthrax attacks, pandemic influenza, various bird influenza threats, Ebola and Zika, among others, and, of course, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Thanks to the power of science and investments in research and innovation, the world has been able to fight deadly diseases and help save lives around the globe,” he said in a statement. “I am proud to have been part of this important work and look forward to helping to continue to do so in the future.”

Fauci will be speaking on “Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Lessons from COVID-19,” on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at noon, as part of the COVID-19 Lecture series. For the videocast, go to https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=45929.