Dr. Francis Collins, who led the National Institutes of Health (NIH) when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, has stepped down from the federal government.
Collins said in a March 1 statement that he was retiring. He did not list a reason for his abrupt departure and declined a request for an interview.
Collins, 74, was the director of the NIH from 2009 until December 2021, when he stepped down from the position but remained with the agency, overseeing research into diabetes and a genetic aging disorder.
The doctor said he was honored with a long career at an agency “rightfully called the crown jewel of the federal government for decades.” He said that NIH support enabled a range of scientific advancements, including treatments for cancer and sickle cell disease….