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NIH Record - National Institutes of Health
The gut, a big pink sack filled with colorful pellets, strands and y-shaped branches representing the different bacteria strains

November 26, 2021

  • Four individuals in face masks gather around a large pedestal topped with an architectural model of a building under glass.

    HHS Secretary Becerra Visits

    By Carla Garnett

    HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra visited NIH on Nov. 4 for the first time as head of the department. Accompanied by Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm and other HHS staff, he spent more than 2 hours touring a lab in the Clinical Center, meeting with top leadership, including NIH director Dr. Francis Collins and principal deputy director Dr. Lawrence Tabak, and getting briefings and a lab demonstration at the VRC.
  • Head shot of a smiling Winn, wearing a tuxedo

    Winn Urges Tackling Disparities

    By Dana Talesnik

    Science and technology alone will not eradicate cancer, says VCU Massey Cancer Center director Dr. Robert Winn. At a recent NCI lecture, Winn discusses the impact of place and space and the need for more equitable health care delivery.
  • image of screen grid featuring 4 people shown individually in boxes

    Animal Care Workers Appreciated on Director’s ‘Gratitude Tour’ Call

    “Animal care workers make the NIH mission possible,” NIH director Dr. Francis Collins told attendees at a recent “Gratitude Tour” stop. He continued to express his appreciation for dedicated work over the last nearly 2 years under pandemic conditions.
  • Mason sits in her red wheelchair wearing black scrubs

    Hire Health Care Workers with Disabilities, Says Mason

    By Eric Bock

    A lot of people with disabilities are health care workers. And many more are waiting for a chance, said Ryann Mason during the NIH’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month keynote address. “Most individuals with disabilities are much more independent than people realize,” she said.
A big pink sack filled with colorful pellets, strands and y-shaped branches illustrate the different bacteria strains in the gut.

On the Cover

Bacterial strains in the guts of humans and chimpanzees diverged and began to evolve separately 5 million years ago, and 15 million years ago in humans and gorillas. Humans and apes evolved into a new species at about the same time. A mutually beneficial relationship between gut bacteria and animal hosts may contribute to formation of a new species.

Photo: Darryl Leja, NHGRI

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