The Director's Desk

Evgenia Abbruzzese, co-founder of the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine, shares insights on diagnostic definitions and the historical context of gender dysphoria. Farr Curlin, a physician and bioethicist, discusses the ethical implications of treatment options. Yuan Zhang elaborates on the rigorous evidence evaluation methods used in the HHS report. Christopher Kaliebe outlines clinical practices for treating youth with gender dysphoria, while philosopher Alex Byre critiques the language surrounding gender identity. Together, they uncover the complexities and uncertain outcomes of current pediatric gender treatments.

Unlock the science behind how taste, smell, and the brain shape our health. In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya sits down with Dr. Paule Joseph—Lasker Clinical Research Scholar, Tenure-Track Investigator, and Chief of the Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism (SenSMet) at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).Dr. Joseph shares her career journey and groundbreaking research on chemosensation, metabolism, and ingestive behavior. Her team studies how the brain interprets taste, smell, and chemesthetic signals—and how these pathways change in conditions like obesity, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorders. She also discusses her clinical-translational work, innovative psychophysical methods, fMRI imaging, rodent models, and SenSMet’s research on COVID-19–related smell and taste loss.If you’re interested in neuroscience, metabolic health, sensory science, translational research, or the future of precision health, this conversation is for you.👉 Subscribe for more conversations with NIH leaders and scientists advancing biomedical research and public health.Learn more about clinical trials or find one near you:https://clinicaltrials.gov/

In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya speaks with Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger, Acting Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). They discuss Dr. Taubenberger’s remarkable career path and the groundbreaking research NIAID is leading to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.From developing vaccines and life-saving treatments to advancing the science of immune system function, NIAID’s work is shaping the future of global health. This conversation offers an inside look at how cutting-edge research is helping to protect communities in the U.S. and around the world from some of the most pressing health threats of our time.

In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya speaks with Dr. Geri Donenberg, NIH Associate Director for AIDS Research. Together, they discuss Dr. Donenberg’s inspiring career path and the latest technological breakthroughs that could revolutionize how we treat HIV infection.From decades of research to emerging therapies and health strategies, this conversation offers rare insights into the future of HIV prevention and treatment, directly from a leader shaping the NIH’s scientific mission.🔬 In this episode:Dr. Donenberg’s career journey in HIV researchEmerging HIV treatments and technologiesNIH’s role in HIV/AIDS strategyChallenges and opportunities in combating HIVThe future of public health innovation at NIH

In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is joined by Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer, Acting Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives at the NIH.They discuss the evolving role of animal testing in biomedical research, explore cutting-edge alternatives, and examine the ethical and scientific challenges that come with modernizing research practices.Get an inside look at how NIH leaders are shaping the future of biomedical innovation, research policy, and public health strategy.

In this episode of The Director's Desk, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sits down with Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the NIH. Together, they explore the science behind addiction, the ongoing opioid crisis, and the groundbreaking research shaping the future of drug abuse prevention and treatment.🔬 Topics Covered:-The biology of addiction-The opioid epidemic and its public health impact-NIH research on substance use disorders-Policy, stigma, and innovation in addiction science📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe/follow for more in-depth conversations on public health, biomedical research, and science policy.

Welcome to The Director’s Desk, the official NIH podcast hosted by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. In this episode, Dr. Bhattacharya speaks with Dr. Matt Memoli, NIH Principal Deputy Director, about his career path and early experiences as a scientist at NIH. They also discuss the current state of early-career scientists at NIH and the broader scientific community, highlighting the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of biomedical research.