<<

DR. DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS

Life in Brief Quick Summary Born: December 24, 1940 Esteemed immunologist with a long career of researching communicable diseases. Known for Hometown: , NY his early research on HIV/AIDS and clear and accessible communication style Current Residence: Washington, DC • Views from a physician’s perspective and bridges the gap between scientific research Religion: Roman Catholic and individualized medicine • Became involved in HIV/AIDS research out of Education: interest in a new that had yet to be • MD, Medical College, 1966 studied; went against the advice of his • BS, College of the Holy Cross mentors to do so • Has spent time in developing countries to apply Family: his research to those in need of treatment • Wife, Christine Grady, head of the Department • His credibility and honest demeanor have kept of Bioethics at the NIH Clinical Center him in his position through six presidents • Three children • Speaks frankly but reassuringly about threats, such as correcting misinformation on disease Work History: severity while also reporting what is being done • Director of the National Institute of Allergy and to address the threat Infectious Diseases, 1984-present • Has been a notable figure throughout the • Chief of the Laboratory of Immunoregulation, COVID-19 , frequently testifying NIH, 1980-1984 before Congress and discussing the outbreak • Head of the Clinical Physiology Section of the with the media NIH Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, 1974- 1980 Approach and Motivations • Clinical Associate in the NIH Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, 1968-1974 Credits his Jesuit education for instilling his value of public service. Contributes to public Past and Present Board and Advisory Roles service not only through research, but also by • National Academy of Sciences including the public in the scientific discourse • American Academy of Arts and Sciences • Cares for patients directly, in addition to • National Academy of Medicine conducting research • American Philosophical Society • Speaks about issues in a clear way that • Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters average people can understand • American Society for Clinical Investigation • Uses media outlets to keep the public informed • Infectious Diseases Society of America during times of uncertainty, such as the • American Association of Immunologists COVID-19 pandemic • Editor, Harrison’s Principles of Internal • Includes concerned members of the public in Medicine discussions of how to address crises, such as listening to the concerns of HIV/AIDS activists in the 1980s against the advice of his peers

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE 1

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Areas of Focus Core Communities

Fauci has focused on addressing HIV/AIDS, Fauci’s core communities include his research potential bioterrorism, , and COVID-19 peers, NIAID leadership, and research entities funded by NIAID HIV/AIDS: Spent most of his career researching HIV/AIDS to prevent its spread Research Co-Authors: Frequently collaborates • Invited AIDS activists into the conversation in with other medical professionals to publish the 1980s against the advice of his peers research related to infectious diseases • Worked with activists to expand experimental • Has published several papers pertaining to drug access without compromising clinical trials HIV/AIDS with Drs. Robert W. Eisinger and • Top goal is to develop an HIV Maureen M. Goodenow; has also worked with • Worked on the President’s Emergency Plan for Eisinger on research AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program to address the • Has worked with Drs. Catherine I. Paules and HIV/AIDS in developing countries Hilary D. Marston on publications related to , tick borne diseases, measles, and Bioterrorism Prevention: Worked on the Bush recent articles on COVID-19 Administration’s Project Bioshield • Has co-authored articles with CDC Director • Supported startup drug companies developing Robert Redfield discussing COVID-19, Ebola, bioterrorism countermeasures with NIH grants and HIV from a policy perspective and contracts following 9/11 • Shifted funding from mostly academic research NIAID-Funded Entities: NIAID has provided funding to various entities for drug research Ebola: Was an informative figure during the • Biotech company Moderna has reached Phase 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa 1 of developing a COVID-19 vaccine with NIAID • Advised against a travel ban to African funding using the Kaiser Permanente countries affected by Ebola, as it could make it Washington Health Research Institute harder for aid to get in • Dr. Hunein Maassab of the University of • Informed Congress about the efforts NIAID was Michigan was funded in the 1990s to develop a making to create a cure or vaccine for Ebola nasal spray flu vaccine, resulting in FluMist • Defended the CDC against criticism for lack of • Provided funding to the Foundation for preparation for American medical professionals Innovative New Diagnostics in the mid-2000s to returning from treating Ebola patients in Africa develop a new test for tuberculosis, resulting in Xpert MTB/RIF COVID-19: Has criticized the manner in which the government responded to the outbreak NIAID Leadership: Fauci’s office contains highly • Initiated work on a vaccine shortly after hearing educated NIAID figures about pneumonia cases in in January • Hugh Auchincloss, John J. McGowan, and H. • Expressed to Congress that lack of government Clifford Lane have been heavily involved with implementation of testing early on was a failing HIV/AIDS research during their careers • Critical of the CDC’s narrow criteria for who • F. Gray Handley was previously a could receive testing, especially compared to diplomat and worked with OMB and DoD other countries such as

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE 2

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Family and Personal Background Publications, Media, and Speaking

Grew up in New York City, and gained a health Highly published researcher with numerous care background from working in his father’s media and speaking engagements throughout pharmacy his career, especially since the COVID-19 virus • Grew up in , New York Publications: Has published over 1300 pieces of • Father was a pharmacist at their family-owned research, particularly about HIV/AIDS pharmacy • Fauci AS, et al., Harrison’s Principles of • Delivered prescriptions for the pharmacy while , 17th ed., 2008 growing up • Johnston MI and Fauci AS, “An HIV Vaccine – • Played in his youth Challenges and Prospects,” New England • Completed his at the New York Journal of Medicine, August 2008 Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York • Morens DM, Folkers GK, Fauci AS, “The City Challenge of Emerging and Re-emerging • Joined NIH as an alternative to serving in the Infectious Diseases,” , July 2004 military during the Vietnam War Media: Has made numerous appearances on • Has received numerous awards and honors, national outlets since the COVID-19 outbreak such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, • Preferred Outlets: National cable news National Medal of Science, Ernst Young Prize, networks like CNN, CBS, , PBS; , and Robert Koch Gold Medal social media such as Live and • Is one of the highest-earning federal Live; engagement with celebrities employees, making about $400,000 per year like Steph Curry and Mark Zuckerberg

• Favorite Subjects: How the virus has spread,

how to mitigate the spread of the virus, the

development of a vaccine, forecast for the US

Speaking: Has given speeches to other academics to share his HIV/AIDS research • Favorite Subjects: His research in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, disease prevention • Preferred Audience: Academia, scientific and medical symposiums; Einstein-Rockefeller- CUNY Center for AIDS Research, Keystone Symposia Joint Meetings on HIV, X-STEM Symposium, Harvard School of Public Health

Congressional Testimony: Has testified before various Congressional committees, most recently to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak • Testified before various Congressional committees since the COVID-19 outbreak • Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, testified before Congress frequently to discuss the NIH budget

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE 3

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

COVID-19 Response Criticisms and Controversies

Fauci has become a widely-respected and Fauci has sparked recent controversy within the authoritative figure in the government’s Administration due to his conflicting statements response to the COVID-19 outbreak with President Trump regarding COVID-19

Relevant Positions Trump and Fauci’s contradictory statements • President Trump has adopted a positive • Director of the National Institute of Allergy and outlook when publicly discussing the virus, Infectious Diseases; Member of the White claiming that a vaccine will soon be available House Coronavirus Task Force and that a treatment is already available • Fauci has publicly corrected these statements, Actions: Has been a leading voice discussing stating that a vaccine would likely not be ready the virus in the media, and has been working for another eighteen months and that a with NIAID to develop a vaccine possible therapeutic, the anti-malarial drug • Called a meeting of top-level researchers to chloroquine, requires testing begin developing a vaccine shortly after the • These disagreements, along with Fauci’s virus was identified visible discomfort during televised press • NIAID has provided funding to companies such briefings, have prompted members of the public as Moderna to develop a vaccine; Moderna is to be concerned for Fauci’s position; when he was absent from a press briefing on March 23, currently in Phase 1 of development the hashtag #WheresFauci became trending on • Has traveled around the DC area to make media appearances, attend meetings, and • Fauci has affirmed that President Trump does testify before Congress, despite being at an listen to him regarding substantive issues, but age that makes him vulnerable to the virus acknowledges that he has limited ability to correct false statements Statements: Has provided frank, but reassuring statements to the media • Publicly advocates that everyone should follow guidelines; supports state and local orders, but has not advocated for a federal stay at home order • Urged Trump to extend the social distancing guidelines to the end of April, as the rate of had not slowed as expected • Encourages health care workers to be priority receivers of personal protection equipment • Believes the government failed to implement proper testing early on, creating a significant obstacle to addressing the disease early • Estimates that a vaccine would be ready about eighteen months from March 2020 • Disagrees with Trump’s manner of discussing the pandemic, as he could inspire false hope

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE 4