U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News NIH Office of the Director (OD) http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/ Office of Communications & Public Liaison (OCPL) http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/ocpl/index.html FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 22, 2006 CONTACT: Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL), 301-496-5787 STATEMENT FROM DR. ELIAS A. ZERHOUNI, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, ON THE DEATH OF DR. LEE JONG-WOOK, WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL Today we have lost a leader in the fight against global diseases. Dr. Lee has been the positive force needed to draw the attention of the world and its leaders to emerging threats such as pandemic flu, as well as to the global public health challenges of our times, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. I have known him as a friend and colleague with a genuine passion for his work and compassion for all humanity. This is a tragic loss for all of us. On behalf of all the staff at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, I express my deepest sympathy to Dr. Lee's family and the staff of WHO. Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. National Institutes of Health The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. ## This NIH News Release is available online at: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/may2006/od-22.htm. To subscribe (or unsubscribe) from this list, go to http://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=nihpress&A=1.
