Matthew Memoli

Matthew J. Memoli graduated from the College of William & Mary with an undergraduate degree.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-10 |title=Matthew J. Memoli, M.D., M.S. |url=https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/matthew-j-memoli-md-ms |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |language=en}}{{PD-notice}} He earned a M.S. in microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University in 1998.

Memoli obtained a M.D. in 2002 from St. George's University School of Medicine. Following medical school, he completed a residency in internal medicine at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center via Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Memoli joined NIAID, where he established a clinical and translational research program focused on influenza and respiratory viruses. He serves as the director of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID) Clinical Studies Unit, located at the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland. His research includes studies on human influenza pathogenesis, respiratory viruses, influenza transmission, and broadly protective vaccines.

In 2011, under Memoli's leadership, the LID Clinical Studies Unit revived influenza healthy volunteer challenge studies in the United States after a decade-long hiatus. The unit developed the first FDA-approved H1N1 influenza challenge virus and has been instrumental in developing validated models for influenza research and the evaluation of new vaccines and therapeutics. Memoli has conducted human challenge studies to better understand influenza pathogenesis, correlates of protection, and predictors of severe disease. Recent efforts include studies on universal influenza vaccines and emerging viral infections like Dengue, Zika, and Leishmaniasis.

In 2021, Memoli gained attention for his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates within the NIH. He argued that population-level vaccination strategies could impede the development of natural immunity and favored targeted vaccination for high-risk groups.{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Adam |date=November 8, 2021 |title=Senior NIH expert pushes back on growing vaccine mandates |url=https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/580557-senior-nih-expert-pushes-back-on-growing-vaccine/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |work=The Hill}}{{Cite news |last1=Boodman |first1=Eric |last2=Oza |first2=Anil |date=2025-01-24 |title=Veteran researcher who was critical of U.S. response to Covid named acting NIH head |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/24/trump-nih-acting-director-matthew-memoli-infectious-disease-researcher-fauci-critic/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=STAT |language=en-US}} Memoli participated in an ethics debate on vaccine mandates hosted by the NIH in December 2021.

On January 22, 2025, Memoli was appointed acting director of the NIH by the Trump administration.{{Cite web |title=The NIH Director |url=https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=National Institutes of Health (NIH) |language=EN}} During his direction in early 2025, the NIH suffered from confusion regarding details of purchasing and conducting research.{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/nih-memo-addresses-confusion-about-restrictions-imposed-trump-easing-some-concerns|title=NIH memo addresses 'confusion' about restrictions imposed by Trump, easing some concerns|website=www.science.org}} On February 7, 2025 his office issued a notice on capping the indirect cost rate at 15%.{{Cite web|url=https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-068.html|title=Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates|website=www.nih.gov}} For some universities this corresponds to more than a 75% decrease from the current rate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/08/health/nih-indirect-costs-rate-cap/index.html|title=Researchers decry 'disastrously bad idea' as NIH slashes payments for research infrastructure |website=www.cnn.com|date=8 February 2025 }} Several states have subsequently sued the NIH, arguing that "Without relief from NIH’s action, these institutions’ cutting-edge work to cure and treat human disease will grind to a halt."{{Cite web|url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.280590/gov.uscourts.mad.280590.1.0.pdf|title=COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF|website=www.courtlistener.com}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:College of William & Mary alumni

Category:Thomas Jefferson University alumni

Category:St. George's University alumni

Category:Physician-scientists

Category:21st-century American physicians

Category:21st-century American biologists

Category:American microbiologists

Category:Directors of the National Institutes of Health

Category:American medical researchers

Category:American infectious disease physicians

Category:COVID-19 researchers

Category:Second Trump administration personnel