STAT+: Doctor, wife of acting U.S. attorney general, appointed to NIH advisory council

STAT PlusExclusive Doctor, wife of acting U.S. attorney general appointed to NIH advisory council Kristine Blanche’s selection is first such of such appointments made in over a year Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Megan MolteniApril 26, 2026 Science Writer Megan Molteni[email protected]Megan Molteni reports on discoveries from the frontiers of genomic medicine, neuroscience, and reproductive tech. She joined STAT in 2021 after covering health and science at WIRED. You can reach Megan on Signal at mmolteni.13. Kristine Blanche, an integrative medicine doctor and wife of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, has been named as a member to one of the advisory councils that provides critical funding recommendations to the National Institutes of Health. Her appointment, to serve on the advisory council to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, is the first of such appointments to be made in over a year. It’s unclear if Blanche’s selection — which has not been publicized by the NIH — is a sign of a thawing in the pipeline of advisory council appointments. But it’s done little to quiet simmering concerns among the wider research community about whether the Trump administration would attempt to stack councils with ideological allies who will use their positions to advance its political goals. Advertisement It’s “the worst kind of political patronage,” Joshua Gordon, a former director of the National Institute of Mental Health, told STAT. He and others worry the move will erode taxpayers’ trust in how the largest funder of biomedical research in the world spends its $48 billion budget. “It’s clearly meant to contribute to an intentional degradation of confidence in the NIH.” STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In NIH, research, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Megan Molteni Science Writer Megan Molteni reports on discoveries from the frontiers of genomic medicine, neuroscience, and reproductive tech. She joined STAT in 2021 after covering health and science at WIRED. You can reach Megan on Signal at mmolteni.13. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended Exclusive April 21, 2026 STAT Plus: Tortugas Neuroscience launches with hopes to develop drugs for brain disorders, other conditions Exclusive April 10, 2026 GAO report shows gap between scale of illegal vapes and enforcement Advertisement Exclusive April 2, 2026 STAT Plus: Small drugmakers, facing threat of tariffs, negotiate pricing deals with White House Exclusive March 31, 2026 STAT Plus: HSA companies struck it big in Trump’s tax bill. They’re lobbying for more Politics March 27, 2026 STAT Plus: Amid focus on food, FDA leader briefs lawmakers on priorities Subscriber Picks