NIH names John Powers III as acting director of NIAID amid leadership uncertainty

The National Institutes of Health has appointed researcher John Powers III to serve as acting director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Powers previously served as a senior adviser at NIAID and was the deputy to former director Jeffrey Taubenberger.

The appointment follows weeks of uncertainty after the previous director stepped down and the institute has been without a permanent leader since the removal of Jeanne Marrazzo last March.

NIAID, the NIH's second-largest agency with a $6.5 billion budget, faces heightened scrutiny as the United States deals with a hantavirus outbreak and an Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. Lawmakers have voiced concerns about the institute's infectious disease expertise.

NIH staff were informed of the change via an internal email on Tuesday, confirming Powers will lead the institute on an acting basis while a permanent director is sought.