Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, where he oversees an extensive research portfolio focused on infectious and immune-mediated diseases. 

As the long-time chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Dr. Fauci has made many seminal contributions in basic and clinical research and is one of the world’s most-cited biomedical scientists. He was one of the principal architects of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has saved millions of lives throughout the developing world.  

Trained as a physician and immunologist, Dr. Fauci joined NIAID and subsequently became, and has remained its Director for the past 36 years.  In this capacity, he designed PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) under President George Bush, which has brought remarkable relief throughout the most devastated parts of the world, especially Africa. As the most renowned U.S. infectious disease expert, he has demonstrated leadership in responding to outbreaks of SARS, MERS, Ebola, and now Covid-19. 

Today, Dr. Fauci is the most influential public health leader in the U.S. and is widely respected throughout the world for his efforts against the coronavirus. As NIAID director he has led research efforts on the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for Covid-19. He is the voice of reason for randomized, controlled trials for evaluating antiviral drugs and other therapeutics. These efforts have led to useful therapeutics that have markedly reduced death rates for hospitalized Covid-19 patients. 

In addition to traditional vaccine methods, he and his team recognized the value of novel vaccine approaches, such as mRNA vaccines, and quickly moved them into clinical development. Several of these vaccines have gained approval and are now being widely distributed to inoculate millions of people worldwide against the coronavirus. 

Dr. Fauci is scientist, humanist, communicator, and has been the trusted advisor of seven U.S. Presidents in meeting infectious disease threats. He has received many honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Science Medal, and 45 honorary degrees.