Elias A. Zerhouni print  
   Biography
 
Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., is the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s medical research agency. NIH has 27 Institutes and Centers and a budget of $28 billion. At NIH, he has overseen the completion of the doubling of the NIH budget, initiated the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, established and supported the reduction of health disparities, and ensured public access to NIH-funded research results.

Dr. Zerhouni has spent his career providing clinical, scientific, and administrative leadership. Prior to joining the NIH, Dr. Zerhouni served as executive vice-dean of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr. Zerhouni was born in Nedroma, Algeria and earned his medical degree at the University of Algiers School of Medicine in 1975. He completed his residency in diagnostic radiology at Johns Hopkins in 1978 as chief resident.

He has won a Gold Medal from the American Roentgen Ray Society and two Paul Lauterbur Awards. His research in imaging led to advances in Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT scanning) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that resulted in 157 peer reviewed publications and 8 patents.

Since 2000, he has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine.

Dr. Zerhouni received the honorary title Doctor Emeritus of the University of Algiers in 2005.
 
 
  Abstract
 
Changing Lives: The Disease Control Priorities Project (DCPP)
Changing Lives: The Disease Control Priorities Project (DCPP) Life expectancy and other health metrics are increasing globally, yet many poor countries and areas in all countries are not benefiting fully from scientific and public health progress. The DCPP is an alliance of the Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: DCPP aims to decrease disease and economic burdens in low-income countries by providing evidence-based analyses to inform health policy-making. The Project has identified the growing burden of chronic diseases (cardiovascular, cancer, mental illness) globally while highlighting the continuing importance of infections (particularly HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis) and neonatal deaths in Africa and South Asia. Many of the best and most cost-effective solutions (e.g. keeping newborns clean and warm; advising people at risk of heart disease to take an aspirin a day) are inexpensive. Surgery for obstetrical complications, trauma or cataracts, appears expensive but is worth the investment because it effectively and efficiently treats very serious health problems. Investments in science and sharing of information are key to improved health and economic development. The presentations will cover the genesis and main messages of DCPP with focus on infectious diseases, chronic diseases, health systems, and research and product development priorities. The DCPP has just released three new books--Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition; Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors; and Priorities in Health--that will help countries establish their own priorities, choose the best interventions and strengthen the capacity of health systems to deliver those interventions.