The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the selection of Dr. Peter Joseph Embí, a distinguished physician-scientist and leader in biomedical informatics, as the new director of NIH’s National Library of Medicine (NLM). Dr. Embí is expected to assume his role on September 10, 2026, bringing nearly three decades of extensive experience in clinical, research, academic, and executive leadership.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., highlighted Dr. Embí's expertise, stating, "Dr. Embí is a pioneer at the intersection of biomedical informatics, research, and clinical care, with a proven track record of turning data into better health outcomes." Dr. Bhattacharya added that Dr. Embí's leadership would be "essential to ensuring the library continues to serve as a trusted, cutting-edge resource for researchers, clinicians, and the public" as NLM navigates an era of AI and data-driven discovery.
As the NLM's fifth director since its establishment in 1956, Dr. Embí will oversee the world's largest biomedical library, managing an annual budget of approximately $495 million and a workforce of nearly 1,400. NLM serves as a critical information hub, learning center, and innovation incubator, advancing science through effective data use, hosting genomic data repositories, and coordinating the Network of the National Library of Medicine across the U.S.
Dr. Embí's career includes significant positions such as tenured professor and Endowed Director of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, President and CEO of the Regenstrief Institute, and the nation’s first chief research information officer at The Ohio State University. He is recognized for founding clinical research informatics and originating the concept of algorithmovigilance, which involves the systematic evaluation and monitoring of AI in healthcare. Dr. Bhattacharya also extended appreciation to Stephen Sherry, Ph.D., for his dedicated leadership as Acting Director since October 2023.