Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., was appointed Director of NIAID in 1984. He oversees an extensive research portfolio of basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious and immune-mediated diseases. He serves as one of the key advisors to the White House and Department of Health and Human Services on global HIV/AIDS issues, and on initiatives to bolster medical and public health preparedness against emerging infectious disease threats such as pandemic influenza.

Dr. Fauci also is chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, and was the world's 10th most-cited HIV/AIDS researcher in the period 1996-2006. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has received numerous awards for his scientific accomplishments, including the National Medal of Science, the Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has been awarded 36 honorary doctoral degrees and is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than 1,100 scientific publications, including several major textbooks.