New York, Nov 27 (NationPress) US President-Elect Donald Trump has appointed Jay Bhattacharya, a doctor-researcher from Kolkata, who has expressed skepticism regarding Covid policies, to head the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a prominent medical research institution.

Trump declared on Tuesday evening that he was "excited to nominate" him for the role of directing the nation's medical research and making significant discoveries that will enhance health and save lives.

In his acceptance, Bhattacharya stated on X: "We will reform American scientific institutions so they regain public trust and utilize excellent science to restore America’s health!"

The NIH comprises 27 distinct research organizations focused on various diseases and health matters, with an annual budget of $48 billion.

While the directorship of NIH is not classified as a cabinet-level position, it requires Senate confirmation and holds considerable global influence due to its extensive research scope impacting health worldwide.

Trump mentioned that Bhattacharya would collaborate with Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore NIH to a "gold standard of medical research" as they investigate the root causes and solutions for America’s major health issues, including the rising crisis of chronic illnesses.

Bhattacharya is a multi-disciplinary academic at Stanford University, where he holds professorships in medicine, economics, and health, possessing both a medical degree and a PhD in economics.

He gained national recognition during the Covid pandemic by challenging the dominant government health strategies related to extended lockdowns, engaging in direct discourse with Anthony Fauci, who was recognized as the architect of the official policy.

Bhattacharya contended that he faced government censorship, as Twitter placed him on its "Trends Blacklist", curtailing his influence on the social media platform now known as X.

Trump highlighted in his post on Truth Social that Bhattacharya is a co-author of The Great Barrington Declaration, which proposed an alternative to lockdowns in October 2020.

As one of the declaration's authors, he joined other doctors, scientists, and researchers in advocating for easing restrictions on healthy young individuals while implementing a "focused protection" strategy for the elderly and those at higher risk.

The declaration posited that this approach would enable individuals to "naturally build immunity to the virus through infection, while safeguarding those at greatest risk".

This stance highlighted the divide between Democrats, who supported stringent lockdowns, and Republicans.

States led by Republicans, like Florida, which embraced aspects of the declaration, did not report significantly improved statistics compared to Democrat-led states like California, which enforced strict lockdowns and maintained lower school closures.

As the social and educational repercussions of the lockdowns have surfaced, some former officials, including former NIH Director Francis Collins, have acknowledged that their limited focus on lockdowns may have been misguided.

While Kennedy is against vaccinations, Bhattacharya holds a different perspective.

Kennedy promotes unconventional treatments and theories that have faced criticism, yet his and Trump’s emphasis on chronic diseases has garnered some praise.