Leadership Shake-Up at NIH Continues as Deputy Director Tara Schwetz Put on Leave

In the latest development affecting the leadership of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Deputy Director Tara Schwetz, Ph.D., has been placed on administrative leave, effective March 27, 2025. This move marks another significant change in the agency's top ranks, following recent departures and appointments that have reshaped the landscape of federal health leadership.

NIH Leadership in Flux

Schwetz, who served as the deputy director for program coordination, planning, and strategic initiatives, played a crucial role in establishing the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) in 2022. Her leave comes on the heels of several other high-profile exits from the NIH and related agencies.

The Senate recently confirmed President Donald Trump's nominee, Jayanta Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., to lead the NIH, signaling a new direction for the agency. This appointment coincides with the departure of other key figures, including:

• Michael Lauer, M.D., former deputy director for extramural research
• Larry Tabak, Ph.D., who retired from his position as principal deputy director

These changes are part of a broader reshuffling across federal health agencies, with notable departures including:

• Renee Wegrzyn, Ph.D., former director of ARPA-H
• Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., former chief of the FDA's drug center
• Celia Witten, M.D., Ph.D., former deputy director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)

ARPA-H and Biomedical Research Funding

Schwetz's departure raises questions about the future direction of ARPA-H, which she helped establish with initial funding of $1 billion from Congress. The agency's budget grew to $2.5 billion by May 2023, at which point it announced the hiring of its first program managers and declared itself "open for business."

ARPA-H was designed to serve as a more efficient bridge between public and private sector biomedical research, aiming to accelerate the development of breakthrough technologies and treatments. The impact of leadership changes on this mission remains to be seen.

Broader Implications for Federal Health Agencies

The ongoing leadership changes at the NIH and other health agencies occur against a backdrop of significant job cuts across the federal health sector. This restructuring has affected various departments, including the FDA's Digital Health Center of Excellence and divisions responsible for medical device safety and food safety.

As the dust settles on these organizational shifts, the pharmaceutical and biotech industries are closely watching for any changes in policy, funding priorities, or regulatory approaches that may emerge under the new leadership.