WASHINGTON — Renowned evolutionary biologist Neil H. Shubin took office today as the president of the National Academy of Sciences. Also today, Monica M. Bertagnolli, former director of the National Institutes of Health, began as president of the National Academy of Medicine.

Shubin comes to the NAS from the University of Chicago, where he led a dynamic molecular biology and paleontology research laboratory. He is well-known for having led fossil hunting expeditions around the world, including to Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, the largest and northernmost territory of Canada, where in 2004 his team made a breakthrough discovery of a fossil representing an intermediate body plan between fish and amphibians. He is a best-selling author and science communicator, and his critically acclaimed book Your Inner Fish was turned into an Emmy winning miniseries on PBS. Read more about Shubin here.

“I am so grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead the National Academy of Sciences at a time when the pace of scientific discovery is accelerating faster than ever,” said Shubin. “I look forward to building upon the Academy’s storied history, and to further its enduring mission to serve the nation.”  

Bertagnolli is a surgical oncologist and physician-scientist who served as director of the National Cancer Institute before becoming director of the NIH. She has championed collaborative efforts to build a learning health system by transforming the data infrastructure for clinical research, including by spearheading the mCODE initiative, which enabled standardized oncology data exchange, and DataCOUNTS, an NIH program managing data to drive a learning health system. Bertagnolli is also a strong advocate for increasing the representation of clinical trial participants, particularly from rural and remote communities. Read more about her here.

“The NAM and the National Academies represent both the highest standard of scientific evidence and an extraordinary community of leaders capable of putting that evidence into action,” said Bertagnolli. “It is an honor to lead at this transformative moment for science and health in our nation.”

Reporters who wish to schedule an interview with Shubin or Bertagnolli should contact the Office of News and Public Information at tel. 202-334-2138 or email news@nas.edu.