For Immediate Release

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023

For media inquiries please email Michael Chancley at Michael@PrEP4All.org 

PrEP4All welcomes the announcement of Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo to fill the role of Director at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a post that was previously held for almost four decades by Dr. Anthony Fauci. The selection of Dr. Marrazzo, who notably pioneered pivotal research for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for women, demonstrates an ongoing commitment at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to champion key HIV prevention research for communities that are currently shut out of the global response to the epidemic.

“It was an honor to be a member of the search committee that interviewed amazing candidates like Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo.” commented PrEP4All Board Member Peter Staley. “She’ll be filling some very big shoes – Tony Fauci’s remarkable legacy of public service as NIAID’s director for 39 years. As public health advocates, PrEP4All looks forward to working with Dr. Marrazzo on the continued fight against HIV, along with new challenges like Long COVID. We also need a fresh look at how NIAID promotes access to its own discoveries, fully leveraging the American taxpayers’ intellectual property.”

NIAID has long played a vital part in advancing essential research for HIV prevention, including PrEP, innovations for people living with HIV, novel preventive interventions for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and research into addressing the needs of those experiencing long-term effects of COVID. At a time where infectious disease threats are on the rise globally and preventive and sexual health has come under attack for women and LGBTQ communities around the world, Dr. Marrazzo’s demonstrated commitment to addressing HIV and STIs in marginalized populations will be of enormous value in ensuring that the research needs of vulnerable communities are met.

“Today’s appointment also makes some LGBTQ history. Dr. Marrazzo will be the first openly gay director of an institute at the NIH,” added Staley.

“We look forward to working with Dr. Marrazzo, who is clearly no stranger to PrEP.” said Michael Chancley, Communications and Mobilization Manager for PrEP4All and a lead convener of the PrEP in Black America Coalition. “I think many of us will be eager to see how she intends to promote equity for communities of color as a core part of NIAID research, particularly for infectious disease threats that disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities. A key part of that will likely be setting in place plans to advance the leadership and careers of researchers from those same communities, and we at PrEP4All and PrEP in Black America look forward to that discussion.”