NIH Reform Act

H.R. 1497 would restructure the National Institutes of Health by dividing the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) into three separate institutes. The National Institute of Allergic Diseases would focus on allergies, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases would handle infectious disease research, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases would address immunologic conditions. Each new institute would have its own director appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. The current NIAID director position would be eliminated, and its existing research and responsibilities would be redistributed among the three new institutes. The bill would require updates to federal law to reflect this new organizational structure. Currently, the bill is under consideration by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and has not yet been voted on by the full House.