DeGette Comments On Zerhouni Resignation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Co), Vice Chair of theCommittee on Energy and Commerce and the chief architect of the StemCell Research Enhancement Act, today offered the following statement onthe resignation of Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director of the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH):

"Dr. Zerhouni should be commended for his extraordinary leadership ofthe NIH in not only directing our nation's premiere research facility,but also for his commitment to keeping the United States at the helm ofcutting-edge research. He led the charge in restructuring the NIH andcoordinating interdisciplinary research across the NIH's manyinstitutes, which has allowed the advancement of cross-cutting,translational research.

"Dr. Zerhouni's courage in advocating for embryonic stem cell research,despite President Bush's opposition, has kept the focus onevidence-based science, while many continue to play politics in thisdebate. His leadership in supporting all ethical science has led way tonew and innovative research. The scientific community has been wellrepresented with Dr. Zerhouni leading the National Institutes ofHealth. I will miss his leadership and thank him for all he has done."