US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya as the head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Known for his criticism of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates, Bhattacharya is a professor at Stanford University specializing in health policy and economics.

This historic appointment makes him the first Indian-American selected by Trump for a top administrative role. Bhattacharya will collaborate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to focus on groundbreaking medical research and address America's chronic illness crisis.

Bhattacharya gained prominence for co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration in 2020, which argued against lockdowns due to their long-term harm. His work emphasizes the health of vulnerable populations and has sparked debate over public health policies.

This nomination reflects Trump's ongoing efforts to "Make America Healthy Again," with Jim O'Neill also named as deputy secretary of HHS.