It’s good for our well being to eat proper, train, and get loads of relaxation. Nonetheless, many different issues contribute to our sense of wellbeing, together with making it some extent to observe gratitude every time we are able to. With this in thoughts, I can’t consider a greater time than Thanksgiving to acknowledge only a few of the numerous causes that I—and everybody who believes within the mission of the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH)—need to be grateful.
First, I’m grateful for the numerous enormously proficient individuals with whom I’ve labored over the previous 12 months whereas performing the duties of the NIH Director. Explicit thanks go to these on my rapid staff throughout the Workplace of the Director. I couldn’t have taken on this problem with out their devoted assist.
I’m additionally gratified by the continued enthusiasm and assist for biomedical analysis from so many alternative corners of our society. This consists of the numerous hundreds of unsung, affected person companions who put their time, effort, and, in some instances, even their lives on the road for the sake of medical progress and promising therapy advances. With out them, scientific analysis—together with probably the most pivotal scientific trials—merely wouldn’t be potential.
I’m most appreciative of the persevering with efforts at NIH and throughout the broader biomedical neighborhood to additional allow variety, fairness, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the biomedical analysis workforce and in all of the work that NIH helps.
Excessive on my Thanksgiving checklist is the widespread availability of COVID-19 bivalent booster pictures. These boosters not solely guard in opposition to older strains of the coronavirus, but additionally broaden immunity to the newer Omicron variant and its many subvariants. I’m additionally tremendously grateful for everybody who has—or quickly will—get boosted to guard your self, your family members, and your communities because the winter months quick method.
One other huge “thanks” goes out to all of the researchers learning Lengthy COVID, the complicated and doubtlessly debilitating constellation of signs that strikes some individuals after restoration from COVID-19. I sit up for extra solutions as this work continues and we definitely couldn’t do it with out our affected person companions.
I’d additionally like to precise my appreciation for the NIH’s institute and heart administrators who’ve contributed to the NIH Director’s Weblog to showcase NIH’s broad and various portfolio of promising analysis.
Lastly, a particular due to all of you who learn this weblog. As you collect with household and associates to have a good time this Thanksgiving vacation, I hope the time you spend right here offers you a couple of extra causes to really feel grateful and respect the significance of NIH in turning scientific discovery into higher well being for all.
