In the landscape of public health, the role of dedicated doctors is paramount. Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo stands as a shining example of such leadership, having assumed the directorship of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the fall of 2023. As the sixth director of this pivotal institution, Dr. Marrazzo is now at the forefront of a vast research endeavor, overseeing a substantial $6.6 billion budget. This funding is instrumental in propelling the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and crucially, the prevention of a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from infectious threats to immunologic and allergic conditions.
Dr. Marrazzo’s reputation precedes her, built upon significant contributions to the field of sexually transmitted infections. Her work is especially notable for its impact on women’s health, an area where dedicated doctors are making considerable strides. Her research, deeply rooted in both discovery and implementation science, delves into the complexities of the human microbiome, particularly its connection to infections within the female reproductive tract and the influence of hormonal contraception. Furthermore, her expertise extends to the critical area of HIV prevention, encompassing biomedical interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and microbicides. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), sexually transmitted diseases in individuals with HIV, and the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance in gonorrhea also fall under her extensive research portfolio. Her insights are widely disseminated through over 250 scientific publications, solidifying her status as a thought leader and an elected member of the prestigious National Academy of Medicine.
Throughout her distinguished scientific journey, Dr. Marrazzo has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead large, interdisciplinary teams. Her focus has been on translating scientific discoveries into practical applications, particularly in two key areas. Firstly, her work has advanced methods to detect bacteria in BV that are traditionally difficult to culture. Secondly, she has been a driving force in the development and implementation of oral and vaginal PrEP for HIV prevention in women. Early in her career, Dr. Marrazzo and her collaborators made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the diversity of bacteria in BV, revealing it to be far more complex than previously understood. They identified novel anaerobic bacteria within the Clostridiales group, which are specifically associated with BV, fundamentally reshaping the scientific understanding of this intricate condition. Another impactful contribution is her leadership in the NIH-funded VOICE Study, a large-scale project involving over 5,700 women in sub-Saharan Africa. While the initial intent-to-treat analysis of this study showed no efficacy, it uncovered a critical issue: low adherence to the PrEP regimen, despite self-reported high adherence among participants. This finding highlighted the urgent need for reliable biomarkers to accurately measure adherence in intervention studies, especially among young people in communities disproportionately affected by HIV.
Before taking on her national role at NIAID, Dr. Marrazzo served as the Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This position provided her with a platform to champion the values she is most passionate about: advancing research in discovery and implementation science, nurturing the next generation of medical professionals, supporting the career progression of underrepresented minorities in medicine and leadership, fostering meaningful community engagement, and delivering exceptional patient care.
Dr. Marrazzo’s commitment to mentorship is evident through her long-standing dedication to trainees at all career stages. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association’s Distinguished Career Award, the highest honor for research and mentorship in this area. She is a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and holds board certification in infectious disease. Further demonstrating her leadership and expertise, Dr. Marrazzo has chaired both the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Council and the ABIM Infectious Disease Specialty Board. Her academic foundation is strong, with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Harvard University, an M.D. from Thomas Jefferson University, and an M.P.H. in epidemiology from the University of Washington. She completed her residency and chief residency in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital, marking the beginning of a career dedicated to advancing medical science and public health, and solidifying her place among the leading doctors of our time.
