Jau Bhattacharya, who is an Indian-origin professor at Stanford School of Medicine, is confirmed as the Director of NIH. Bhattarcharya had earlier faced questions about his plans for vaccine research,

Both agencies are part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which like much of the federal government, has seen mass layoffs as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to implement budget cuts.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will direct the N.I.H., and Dr. Martin A. Makary will lead the F.D.A. Both have reputations as medical contrarians.