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KAUST Inauguration Symposium Speaker

Elias Zerhouni

Johns Hopkins University

Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. served as director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of the largest research organizations in the world, from 2002 to 2008 and has returned to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, which he formerly served as Executive Vice-Dean, as a senior advisor. Dr. Zerhouni also serves on the KAUST Board of Trustees.

A radiologist by training, Dr. Zerhouni’s research has focused on developing computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods to diagnose and treat cancer and cardiovascular, pulmonary and other diseases. A gifted scientist, entrepreneur, and administrator, he has been a force in developing the research enterprise at Hopkins, has transformed an area adjacent to campus into an emerging biotech powerhouse, and was instrumental in creating Hopkins’ Institute for Cell Engineering. He envisions an era in which the paradigm of medicine will increasingly become more predictive, personalized, and preemptive, greatly improving health and reducing cost to society. Dr. Zerhouni has published over 150 papers, primarily in medical imaging, and has 8 patents.

Dr. Zerhouni earned his medical degree in 1975 from the University of Algiers. After completing his residency in diagnostic radiology at Johns Hopkins in 1978 as chief resident, he rose to the rank of full professor of radiology in 1992 and biomedical engineering in 1995. In 1996, he was named director of the Department of Radiology. He rose through university administrative ranks until tapped as the 15th director of the NIH by the President of the United States.

Under his leadership, the NIH embarked on a number of initiatives, chief among them the Roadmap for Medical Research, designed to enhance synergy and collaborative work among all 27 NIH institutes and centers and leading to the passing by the US Congress of the NIH Reform Act of 2006. Other new programs included those designed to foster high-risk but potentially highimpact research, and enhanced support for young career scientists.

Besides KAUST, Dr. Zerhouni serves on the boards of the Lasker Foundation, Research America, and the Mayo Clinic Foundation. He recently joined the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as a senior fellow for global health. He also serves as an external chief advisor for global science and technology for Sanofi-Aventis and is chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission.

Dr. Zerhouni has received many professional awards, including a Gold Medal from the American Roentgen Ray Society for CT research and two Lauterbur awards for MRI research. He has an honorary doctorate from the University of Algiers. He was elected a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 2000.