The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the appointment of John Gaitanis, M.D., a distinguished pediatric neurologist, as the new director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Dr. Gaitanis is scheduled to assume his leadership role on August 23, 2026.
In his new capacity, Dr. Gaitanis will oversee NICHD's substantial annual budget of approximately $1.7 billion. His responsibilities will include guiding research initiatives focused on advancing maternal, gynecologic, and child health, as well as improving the well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He will lead a team of about 1,100 staff members and support roughly 2,300 research grants both domestically and internationally.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., expressed enthusiasm for the appointment, saying, "With the burden of chronic disease on the rise, Dr. Gaitanis’s forward-thinking approaches for NICHD research will help us adapt to the realities of today." Dr. Bhattacharya added that they anticipate "transformative advances in clinical care to improve health for women, children, and people with disabilities."
Dr. Gaitanis brings nearly three decades of clinical, academic, and leadership experience, specializing in complex neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy, and autism. His previous roles include Chief of Child Neurology at Tufts Medical Center and Director of Child Neurology at Brown Medical School. His work has significantly advanced research and clinical care, expanded access to specialized services, and supported the communication needs and dignity of nonspeaking individuals with autism. Dr. Gaitanis currently serves on the board of the Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs (MAPS), an organization dedicated to translating emerging science into clinical care for children with complex medical conditions.