Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD

What's the big deal with microplastics? Because they correlate with strokes, heart attacks, and death! Patients with microplastics in blood vessels had a 450% increase in these events. Funded by @NIH & others. Thanks to @HHSGov @RobertKennedyJr @NIHDirector_Jay nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…

Today, HHS and @SecKennedy celebrated Autism Awareness Day, honoring the challenges and triumphs of the millions of people living with autism and their families.

After a rare cancer diagnosis, David Wolfe turned to NIH for specialized care. What was expected to be four tumors became more than 400—discovered and removed by Dr. Blakely at @theNCI. Read his story: bit.ly/416TxZi

One year ago today, I stepped into the role of NIH Director. In that time, NIH continues to set the gold standard in biomedical research by supporting breakthroughs that are improving patients’ lives today while building the foundation for future discoveries. I’m grateful for all we’ve accomplished so far and encourage you to follow along as we continue to strengthen trust in science and accelerate discovery.

Earlier this month, HHS hosted its first inaugural National Conference on Women’s Health. Over three days, leading experts took the stage to share breakthroughs, insights, and solutions with an energetic audience. A historic step forward for women’s health nationwide. #NCWH

Registration is opening soon for the 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference! Join us August 11-13, 2026, at Bethesda North Marriott to engage with the BRAIN community on the latest scientific developments and exciting research priorities for technology-driven innovation. Learn more: bit.ly/4s6IuuS

NEWS: Scientific teams integrate diet and nutrition with autoimmune research to win NIH challenge Find out more ➡️nih.gov/news-events/ne…

NIH released its inaugural Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research today. This groundbreaking new plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to advance innovative and responsible research that promotes the health and well-being of Americans with disabilities. Find out more ➡️ dpcpsi.nih.gov/disabilityheal…

#DYK: Death rates among women stemming from heart disease are higher than those of men. A huge part of MAHA involves helping American women live healthier lives. Meeting that challenge in the days ahead will require a renewed focus on establishing a true gold standard for women’s health research. NIH is up to that challenge. 👩🔬

NIH-funded researchers have mapped how major patterns of brain organization vary from the first to the hundredth year of life. Researchers uncovered complex developmental trajectories and found that they aligned with various biological and behavioral measures, hinting that their new brain atlas may eventually have clinical relevance. linkedin.com/pulse/research…

👩Menopause is a complicated issue that affects each woman differently. Some women treat menopause through hormone replacement therapy. Others, through diet and exercise. Still, doctors and women’s health experts need to know more. 🚀That's why I’m thrilled to announce the launch of a new menopause education effort coming soon to the NIH Challenge program! Visit the NIH Challenge webpage and learn more about this and other prize competitions ➡️ nih.gov/challenges

Join us for the last public webinar on the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan! NIH leadership will share the framework and answer questions live. Registration is required—submit questions when you sign up or during the webinar. Register here: bit.ly/3Px9fdj.

Thank you to Lord @mattwridley for kicking off NIH’s Scientific Freedom Lecture Series. Open, respectful dialogue is at the heart of science. I appreciated the engaging discussion with our staff on the origins of COVID-19.

Looking for a science speaker for your school or community group? Scientists from NIH's National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders free virtual talks on hearing, communication disorders, and careers in science. Learn more and request a speaker: bit.ly/4v4DWHt

Congratulations to the four grand prize winners of the NIH RADx® Tech ACT ENDO Challenge! 🎉This initiative focused on making it easier, faster, and less invasive to diagnose endometriosis — a common condition that can often be difficult to identify. Learn more:bit.ly/4uIw3a8

🍴Everyone knows the sensation of “eating” with our eyes and noses before food meets mouth. However, much less is known about the information superhighway, known as the vagus nerve, that sends signals in the opposite direction — from your gut straight to your brain. An NIH-funded study from Stanford University has identified a critical link between the bacteria that live in your gut and the cognitive decline that often occurs with aging. Read the full story: stan.md/3PmYies

Today, the @WhiteHouse released a commonsense National AI Policy Framework that ensures every American benefits from AI. As @POTUS has said — we need one federal AI policy, not a 50 state patchwork. This gets us there. Eager to work with Congress on this important legislation.

🚨Join us TOMORROW at 2:30pm ET for the inaugural talk in our NIH Scientific Freedom Lecture Series, titled “Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19” featuring a conversation with Matt Ridley, D.Phil. Watch online via the NIH videocast page: bit.ly/3PsHAu5

For clarification, this event is open to NIH staff in person and is open to press and the general public via this link: videocast.nih.gov/watch/244438a5…

🔬Scientific progress depends on discovery, but also the freedom to question, debate, and examine evidence wherever it leads. In the spirit of that ideal, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of our NIH Scientific Freedom Lecture Series, an exciting new forum aimed at advancing transparency, rigor, and open scientific inquiry. Please join me March 20 at 2:30pm ET for our inaugural talk, titled “Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19” featuring a conversation with Matt Ridley, D.Phil. Guests can attend in person at the Masur Auditorium in NIH Building 10 or online via the NIH videocast page. bit.ly/3PsHAu5

NIH is proudly prioritizing drug repurposing as a way to accelerate research while using resources efficiently. Watch for some outstanding examples of how we’ve applied gold standard science to find new ways existing therapies can benefit more patients now: