Yet another leadership position at the National Institutes of Health appears to be vacant. Jeffery Taubenberger, who has been serving as acting head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has stepped down, Sen. Tammy Baldwin revealed Thursday during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
It was unclear when Taubenberger, who has been serving in the role since April 2025, stepped down, or why, though there has been chatter in infectious diseases research circles that Taubenberger had stepped down about two weeks ago. STAT has asked the Department of Health and Human Services about his status several times; those queries have gone unanswered and unacknowledged.
Taubenberger was still listed as acting director on the institute’s website on Thursday. In the HHS employee directory he is listed as the chief of the viral pathogenesis and evolution section. He has not responded to repeated queries from STAT about his status.
STAT+ Exclusive Story
Already have an account? Log in
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+.
Already have an account? Log in
Individual plans
Group plans
To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+.