The Director's Desk

Director's Desk: Lyme Disease, Ticks & Chronic Illness | NIH and HHS Leaders Discuss New Research

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, affecting an estimated hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya speaks with Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of National Health Communications for the Office of the Surgeon General, about Lyme disease, tick-borne illness, chronic symptoms, prevention, and the urgent need for better diagnostics and treatments. The conversation explores how Lyme disease spreads through infected ticks, why some patients experience persistent symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and neurological complications, and how NIH, HHS, FDA, CDC, and other partners are working to advance research and patient-centered solutions. The episode also discusses tick bite prevention, co-infections such as babesiosis and ehrlichiosis, and new approaches to understanding infection-associated chronic illnesses. Dr. Haridopolos also shares insights on public health leadership, patient empowerment, children’s health, the Office of the Surgeon General, and national efforts to address chronic disease and improve health communication. Listen to learn more about Lyme disease research, tick prevention, chronic Lyme symptoms, and how science is helping shape the future of diagnosis, treatment, and public health. Subscribe for more conversations from The Director’s Desk featuring leaders in biomedical research, public health, and medical innovation.

Is Fluoride Safe? The Science Behind Dental Health

Fluoride, oral health, dental infections, and the science behind cavity prevention take center stage in this episode of The Director’s Desk. NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya sits down with Dr. Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque, Acting Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), to discuss why dental health is essential to overall health — and what the latest NIH-supported research reveals about preventing tooth decay and serious oral infections. Tooth decay remains one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. When untreated, cavities and gum disease can progress beyond the mouth, leading to bloodstream infections and severe systemic complications. Dr. Webster-Cyriaque explains the science behind oral bacteria, infection risk, and why prevention, early treatment, and community water fluoridation continue to play a critical role in public health. In this conversation, they explore: • The health consequences of untreated cavities and oral infections • The connection between oral health and systemic disease • The evidence behind fluoride and cavity prevention • NIH-supported dental and craniofacial research • Health equity and reducing disparities in oral health care • Dr. Webster-Cyriaque’s scientific career and leadership at NIDCR This episode highlights a central message of biomedical research and public health: oral health is integral to overall health. Subscribe to The Director’s Desk for more conversations with NIH leaders advancing evidence-based medicine, dental research, and public health innovation.

HHS & NIH Evidence Review on Pediatric Gender Dysphoria — Expert Panel Discussion

In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya hosts a roundtable with the primary authors of the new HHS peer-reviewed report, “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices.” This comprehensive federal review evaluates the scientific evidence behind current pediatric gender dysphoria treatments—including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical interventions—and concludes that these approaches carry significant and long-term risks for children and adolescents. Featured Authors & Contributors: • Evgenia Abbruzzese – Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine • Alex Byre, PhD – Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Farr Curlin, MD – Duke University • Moti Gorin, PhD, MBE – Colorado State University • Kristopher Kaliebe, MD, DFAACAP – University of South Florida • Michael K. Laidlaw, MD – Michael K. Laidlaw MD, Inc. • Kathleen McDeavitt, MD – Baylor College of Medicine • Leor Sapir, PhD – Manhattan Institute for Policy Research • Yuan Zhang, PhD – Evidence Bridge • Additional contributors to the HHS evidence review and peer-review process Together, they discuss the report’s major findings, the strength and limitations of the existing evidence base, long-term clinical outcomes, and the implications for research, clinical practice, and public health policy. To learn more or read the full HHS report, visit HHS.gov.

Inside Sensory Science & Metabolism with Dr. Paule Joseph (NIH)

Unlock the science behind how taste, smell, and the brain shape our health. In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya sits down with Dr. Paule Joseph—Lasker Clinical Research Scholar, Tenure-Track Investigator, and Chief of the Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism (SenSMet) at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Dr. Joseph shares her career journey and groundbreaking research on chemosensation, metabolism, and ingestive behavior. Her team studies how the brain interprets taste, smell, and chemesthetic signals—and how these pathways change in conditions like obesity, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorders. She also discusses her clinical-translational work, innovative psychophysical methods, fMRI imaging, rodent models, and SenSMet’s research on COVID-19–related smell and taste loss. If you’re interested in neuroscience, metabolic health, sensory science, translational research, or the future of precision health, this conversation is for you. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with NIH leaders and scientists advancing biomedical research and public health. Learn more about clinical trials or find one near you: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ [https://clinicaltrials.gov/]

Fighting Infectious Diseases | Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger & NIAID

In this episode of The Director’s Desk, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya speaks with Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger, Acting Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). They discuss Dr. Taubenberger’s remarkable career path and the groundbreaking research NIAID is leading to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.From developing vaccines and life-saving treatments to advancing the science of immune system function, NIAID’s work is shaping the future of global health. This conversation offers an inside look at how cutting-edge research is helping to protect communities in the U.S. and around the world from some of the most pressing health threats of our time.