Career
Memoli joined NIAID,where he established a clinical and translational research program focused on influenza and respiratory viruses. [1] He serves as the director of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID) Clinical Studies Unit,located at the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda,Maryland. [1] His research includes studies on human influenza pathogenesis,respiratory viruses,influenza transmission,and broadly protective vaccines. [1]
In 2011,under Memoli's leadership,the LID Clinical Studies Unit revived influenza healthy volunteer challenge studies in the United States after a decade-long hiatus. [1] The unit developed the first FDA-approved H1N1 influenza challenge virus and has been instrumental in developing validated models for influenza research and the evaluation of new vaccines and therapeutics. [1] Memoli has conducted human challenge studies to better understand influenza pathogenesis,correlates of protection,and predictors of severe disease. [1] Recent efforts include studies on universal influenza vaccines and emerging viral infections like Dengue,Zika,and Leishmaniasis. [1]
In 2021,Memoli gained attention for his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates within the NIH. He argued that population-level vaccination strategies could impede the development of natural immunity and favored targeted vaccination for high-risk groups. [2] [3] Memoli participated in an ethics debate on vaccine mandates hosted by the NIH in December 2021. [2]
On January 22,2025,Memoli was appointed acting director of the NIH by the Trump administration. [3] [4] During his direction in early 2025,the NIH suffered from confusion regarding details of purchasing and conducting research. [5] On February 7,2025 his office issued a notice on capping indirect costs at 15%. [6] For some universities this corresponds to more than a 75% decrease from the current rate. [7] Several states have subsequently sued the NIH,arguing that "Without relief from NIH’s action,these institutions’cutting-edge work to cure and treat human disease will grind to a halt." [8]
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