WASHINGTON—May 19, 2010—Research!America praised the nomination of Harold Varmus, MD, as the next director of the National Cancer Institute.
"Harold Varmus is an outstanding choice to lead the National Cancer Institute," said former Congressman John Edward Porter, Research!America chair. "He not only knows NIH, the political environment and the patient community; he is at the vanguard of the science, as well."
Said Mary Woolley, president and CEO, Research!America, "Harold Varmus is perfect for this role. The nation is fortunate that he is willing to re-enter public service. He will hit the ground running-no learning curve. Given the increasing urgency of speeding the justly decried 17-year lag between discovery and delivery to the patient, we have no time to waste."
Woolley noted that Varmus brings to the Institute the credentials of a Nobel Prize-winning scientist in cancer genetics. As a former NIH director, he has a strong knowledge of the agency and has worked with current NIH Director Francis Collins, when Collins was director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. With his experience as president of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Varmus also brings an important appreciation of the value of public-private partnerships. Moreover, his recent experience as co-chair of President Barack Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology has given him valuable insights into the administration's priorities and a stronger perspective across all sciences.
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Founded in 1989, Research!America is supported by member organizations representing 125 million Americans. Visit www.researchamerica.org.
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