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{{Short description|Algerian-American radiologist (born 1951)}}
{{Short description|Algerian-American radiologist (born 1951)}}
{{redirect|Zerhouni|other people with this surname|Zerhouni (surname)}}
{{redirect|Zerhouni|other people with this surname|Zerhouni (surname)}}

{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=February 2018}}
{{Peacock|date=February 2025}}
}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = '''Elias Zerhouni'''
| name = Elias Zerhouni
| image = Elias Zerhouni cropped.png
| image = Elias Zerhouni cropped.png
| image_size =
| image_size =
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| successor = [[Francis Collins]]
| successor = [[Francis Collins]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|4|12}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|4|12}}
| birth_place = [[Nedroma]], [[Algeria]],
| birth_place = [[Nedroma]], [[Algeria]]
| citizenship = United States
| death_date =
| nationality = Algerian-American
| death_place =
| residence =
| citizenship = United States of America
| nationality = [[Algeria]]n [[America]]n
| module = {{Infobox scientist | embed=yes
| module = {{Infobox scientist | embed=yes
|alma_mater = [[University of Algiers]]
|alma_mater = [[University of Algiers]]
|doctoral_advisor =
|doctoral_students =
|known_for = {{Plainlist|
* Former Director of the [[National Institutes of Health]]
* Former Physician-Scientist, Radiology Chair, and Executive Vice Dean at [[Johns Hopkins School of Medicine]]
* Former President of Global R&D at [[Sanofi]]
* Current President of [[OPKO Health]] and Co-founder of ModeX Therapeutics
}}
|influences =
|influenced =
|footnotes =
|field = [[Medical imaging]]
|field = [[Medical imaging]]
|work_institutions = {{Plainlist|
|work_institutions = {{Plainlist|
* [[Johns Hopkins School of Medicine]]
* [[Johns Hopkins School of Medicine]]
}}
}}
|known_for = {{Plainlist|
|prizes = see "Awards and International Recognition" below
* Director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] (2002–2008)
* Leadership roles in medical imaging and biopharmaceutical R&D
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}


'''Elias Zerhouni''' (in Arabic: إلياس زرهوني) (born April 12, 1951) is an Algerian-born American scientist, radiologist, biomedical engineer, entrepreneur, and pharmaceutical industry executive. He served as the 15th Director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH).
'''Elias Zerhouni''' (in Arabic: إلياس زرهوني) (born April 12, 1951) is an Algerian-born American radiologist, biomedical engineer, and pharmaceutical executive. He served as the 15th Director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH) from 2002 to 2008.


Zerhouni spent part of his academic career at [[Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine]], where he held leadership roles including executive vice dean (1996–2002). From 2011 to 2018, he served as President of Global Research and Development at [[Sanofi]]. In 2020, he co-founded ModeX Therapeutics, a company developing immunotherapies, which was later acquired by [[OPKO Health]] in 2022. As of 2025, he serves as President and Vice Chairman of OPKO Health.
Zerhouni spent part of his career on the faculty of the [[Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine]], serving as an executive vice dean from 1996 to 2002. He served as the 15th director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] from May 2, 2002, to October 31, 2008, under the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|George W. Bush administration]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-06 |title=Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. |url=https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/elias-zerhouni-md |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=National Institutes of Health (NIH) |language=EN}}</ref> In 2009, under the [[Obama administration]], he was one of the first presidential science envoys, working to foster scientific and technological collaboration with other nations.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.aaas.org/news/bruce-alberts-elias-zerhouni-and-ahmed-zewail-named-first-us-science-envoys|title=Bruce Alberts, Elias Zerhouni and Ahmed Zewail Named First U.S. Science Envoys|date=18 November 2013|work=aaas.org|access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> He was a senior fellow for the [[Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]] from 2009 to 2010.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2009/02/Elias-Zerhouni-MD-Joins-Foundation-as-a-Senior-Fellow|title=Elias Zerhouni, M.D., Joins Foundation - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|work=gatesfoundation.org|access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> From January 2011 until his retirement on June 30, 2018, he was President of Global Research and Development at the [[pharmaceutical company]] [[Sanofi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sanofi Head of Global R&D Elias Zerhouni to retire; Company names John Reed to take over on July 1 |url=https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2018/2018-04-24-05-30-00-1485864 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.sanofi.com |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2020, Zerhouni co-founded ModeX Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company developing multi-specific immune therapies for cancer and infectious diseases.<ref name="OPKO">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-09 |title=OPKO Health Acquires ModeX Therapeutics, Gains Proprietary Immunotherapy Technology with a Focus on Oncology and Infectious Diseases |url=https://www.opko.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/467/opko-health-acquires-modex-therapeutics-gains-proprietary-immunotherapy-technology-with-a-focus-on-oncology-and-infectious-diseases |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=OPKO Health, Inc. |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, ModeX was acquired by [[OPKO Health]], and Zerhouni was appointed President and Vice Chairman of OPKO Health.<ref name="OPKO"></ref>


==Education and career==
==Education and career==
Zerhouni was born on April 12, 1951, in [[Nedroma]], [[Algeria]]. He grew up during the [[Algerian War]] of Independence. After earning his M.D. from the University of Algiers School of Medicine in 1975, Zerhouni emigrated to the United States to study radiology at the [[Johns Hopkins School of Medicine]].<ref name="LPB">{{Cite web |publisher=The Law Professor Blogs Network|date=2008-04-24 |title=Immigrant of the Day: ELIAS ZERHOUNI (Algeria) |url=https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2008/04/immigrant-of-17.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> His initial residency, sponsored by the Algerian government, became a formal residency program. He subsequently held positions within the radiology department, including chief resident and assistant professor.
Zerhouni was born in [[Nedroma]], Algeria. After receiving his M.D. from the University of Algiers in 1975, he moved to the United States to continue medical training at [[Johns Hopkins University]]. He held several academic and administrative positions there, becoming a full professor in 1992 and chair of the radiology department in 1996.


From 1981 to 1985, he was vice chair of the Department of Radiology at [[Eastern Virginia Medical School]]. In addition to academic work, Zerhouni contributed to imaging technologies and co-invented a method for image-guided breast biopsy. He has also been involved in the establishment of medical imaging companies.
From 1981 to 1985, he was vice chair of the Department of Radiology at [[Eastern Virginia Medical School]] and its affiliated DePaul Hospital. In 1985, Zerhouni returned to Johns Hopkins as co-director of body CT and MRI and was promoted to associate professor.<ref name="JHU">{{Cite web |publisher=Johns Hopkins University|date=2020-08-14 |title=Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. Professorship - Named Deanships, Directorships, and Professorships |url=https://professorships.jhu.edu/professorship/elias-a-zerhouni-m-d-professorship/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |language=en-US}}</ref> He was appointed director of the MRI division in 1988 and promoted to full professor in 1992.<ref name="JHU"></ref> In 1995, he also became a professor of biomedical engineering at Hopkins. In 1996, Zerhouni was named chair of the radiology department at Johns Hopkins.<ref name="JHU"></ref> Zerhouni was appointed executive vice dean of the [[Johns Hopkins School of Medicine]] in 1996,<ref>{{cite web|first=Gary|last=Stephenson|url=http://pages.jh.edu/~gazette/2009/20apr09/20zerhouni.html|title=Zerhouni Rejoins Johns Hopkins Medicine as Senior Adviser|work=Johns Hopkins Gazette|date= April 20, 2009|publisher=Johns Hopkins University|access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> serving as vice dean for Clinical Affairs and president of the Clinical Practice Association (1996-1999) and vice dean for Research (1999–2002).


==Director of the NIH (2002–2008)==
In the early 1980s, Zerhouni established Computerized Imaging Reference Systems (now part of Mirion Technologies), which manufactures tissue-equivalent phantoms used in medical imaging and radiation therapy. He also established the Advanced Medical Imaging Institute, an integrated outpatient medical imaging center. Zerhouni co-invented an image-guided breast biopsy method for diagnosing breast cancer, which led to the creation of Biopsys Medical (acquired by [[Johnson & Johnson]] in 1997).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newswires |first=Dow Jones |date=1997-05-22 |title=Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Biopsys Medical in Stock Swap |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB864308918162715000?msockid=03f68c188c496830224b99908d2b69d9 |access-date=2025-02-03 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> He also established American Radiology Services, an expansion of Johns Hopkins outpatient radiology.
In 2002, President [[George W. Bush]] appointed Zerhouni as Director of the [[National Institutes of Health]]. His tenure included:


* Launching the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
Zerhouni served on the National Cancer Institute's Board of Scientific Advisors (1998-2002), was a consultant to the [[White House]] under President [[Ronald Reagan]] (1985), and was a consultant to the [[World Health Organization]] (1988).
* Supporting the NIH Reform Act of 2006
* Promoting initiatives in neuroscience, women's health, and public access to research
* Reforming peer review processes
* Advocating for early-stage investigators


He was reportedly the first immigrant to serve as NIH Director.{{citation needed}}
==National Institutes of Health (2002–2008)==
Zerhouni was appointed Director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH) by President [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/27/us/man-in-the-news-from-algeria-to-a-dream-elias-adam-zerhouni.html|title=Man in the News; From Algeria to a Dream -- Elias Adam Zerhouni|date=27 March 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=21 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527213640/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/27/us/man-in-the-news-from-algeria-to-a-dream-elias-adam-zerhouni.html|archive-date=27 May 2015}}</ref> He was confirmed by the Senate in April 2002 and served until October 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/elias-zerhouni-md|title=Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D.|date=6 August 2015|work=nih.gov|access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> He was the first immigrant to serve as NIH Director.{{cn|date=February 2025}} During his tenure, the agency's activities included:


==Post-NIH career==
# Establishing the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zerhouni |first=Elias |date=2003-10-03 |title=The NIH Roadmap |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1091867 |journal=Science |volume=302 |issue=5642 |pages=63–72 |doi=10.1126/science.1091867|pmid=14526066 }}</ref>
In 2009, Zerhouni served as a science envoy under the [[Obama administration]] and was a senior fellow at the [[Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]]. He later joined [[Sanofi]] as head of global R&D, serving until 2018.
# The passage of the NIH Reform Act of 2006.
# Supporting the NIH Neuroscience Blueprint.
# Establishing an NIH-wide research initiative on obesity.
# Prioritizing research into health disparities.
# Helping create the Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers.
# Supporting research related to women's health and the development of a vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV).
# Ensuring public access to NIH-funded research results.
# Creating the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program and the NIH Director's New Innovator Award in 2007.
# Reforming peer review to support early-stage investigators.


In 2020, he co-founded ModeX Therapeutics, which was acquired by [[OPKO Health]] in 2022. In 2023, ModeX partnered with [[Merck & Co.]] to develop an [[Epstein–Barr virus]] vaccine.
Zerhouni is on the board of the [[Foundation for the National Institutes of Health]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fnih.org/about/directors|title=FNIH Board|date=8 May 2020|work=fnih.org|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>


==Honors and memberships==
==Legion of Honour, Presidential Envoy, Senior Fellow ==
* Awarded the [[Legion of Honour]] by France in 2008
In 2008, French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] awarded Zerhouni the [[Legion of Honour]], [[France]]’s highest order of merit, for his role in fostering collaboration between the [[National Institutes of Health]] and the [[Pasteur Institute]].
* Member of the [[U.S. National Academy of Medicine]] and [[National Academy of Engineering]]

* Board roles with the [[Foundation for the National Institutes of Health]], [[Lasker Foundation]], and Research!America
In 2009, he served as a presidential science and technology envoy.<ref name=":0" /> He also served as a Senior Fellow for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation from 2009 through 2010.<ref name=":1" />
* Founding board member of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative

During this period, the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science|the American Association for the Advancement of Science]] and [[Science (journal)|''Science'' magazine]] launched ''[[Science Translational Medicine]]'', of which Zerhouni was a founding editor. He also served on the board of Actelion Pharmaceuticals.

==President, Global R&D of Sanofi==
[[Sanofi]] appointed Zerhouni as the head of Research and Development in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.sanofi.com/Images/13798_20101214_nomination_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119110504/http://en.sanofi.com/Images/13798_20101214_nomination_en.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He retired from Sanofi in June 2018.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2018/2018-04-24-07-30-00 |title=Sanofi Head of Global R&D Elias Zerhouni to retire; Company names John Reed to take over on July 1|website=www.sanofi.com |publisher=Sanofi |access-date=26 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507024718/https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2018/2018-04-24-07-30-00|archive-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>

== Foundation work and corporate boards ==
Following his retirement from Sanofi, Zerhouni joined several boards, including the [[Foundation for the National Institutes of Health]], Research!America, and the Lasker Foundation. He also became a founding board member of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC).

Zerhouni joined the management board of Waypoint Capital (now B-FLEXION, chaired by <nowiki>[[Ernesto Bertarelli]]</nowiki>), and continued to serve on the board of <nowiki>[[Danaher Corporation]]</nowiki>.

==ModeX and OPKO Health==
In 2020, Zerhouni co-founded ModeX Therapeutics with R&D leaders [[Gary Nabel]], Zhi-yong Yang, Ronnie Wei, Chih-Jen Wei, and [[Elizabeth Nabel]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us » ModeX Therapeutics |url=https://www.modextherapeutics.com/about-us/#row2 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=ModeX Therapeutics |language=en-US}}</ref> ModeX focuses on multi-specific biologic drugs for cancer and infectious diseases.<ref name="OPKO"></ref> The ModeX portfolio includes cancer immunotherapies and programs developing treatments for viral diseases such as HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and a vaccine for Epstein-Barr virus.<ref name="OPKO"></ref>

In 2022, ModeX was acquired by [[OPKO Health]], and Zerhouni was appointed President and Vice Chairman of OPKO Health.<ref name="OPKO"></ref> In 2023, ModeX signed a deal with [[Merck & Co]] to develop an [[Epstein–Barr virus|EBV]] (EBV) vaccine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=vasundhara |date=2023-03-09 |title=ModeX and Merck sign deal to develop Epstein-Barr Virus vaccine |url=https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/modex-merck-epstein-barr-virus/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Pharmaceutical Technology |language=en-US}}</ref> That same year, ModeX was awarded a contract from the U.S. [[Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority]] (BARDA) to advance candidates addressing public health threats from viral infectious diseases. In 2025, ModeX announced the dosing of the first participant in the Phase I study of an [[Epstein–Barr virus|EBV]] vaccine candidate being developed with Merck & Co.

==Memberships==

Zerhouni served on the board of trustees of the [[King Abdullah University of Science and Technology]].

Zerhouni is an elected member of the [[U.S. National Academy of Medicine]] and [[U.S. National Academy of Engineering]], an emeritus public trustee of the [[Mayo Clinic]], a member emeritus of [[the Radiological Society of North America]], professor emeritus of radiology and biomedical engineering at [[Johns Hopkins University]], a member of the board of fellows of [[Stanford University School of Medicine|Stanford Medicine]], and a member of the board of directors of Research!America, the Foundation for the NIH, and the Lasker Foundation. He is also a founding board member of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative and a member of the [[French Academy of Medicine]].


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{C-SPAN|29061}}
*{{commons category-inline}}
* {{NYTtopic|people/z/elias_zerhouni}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120325131904/http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/bot/boardtrustee.html KAUST Board of Trustees]
*{{C-SPAN|29061}}
*{{NYTtopic|people/z/elias_zerhouni}}


{{s-start}}
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{{s-gov|us}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Harold Varmus]]}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Harold Varmus]]}}
{{s-ttl|order=15th|title=Director of [[National Institutes of Health]] |years=2002{{spaced ndash}}2008}}
{{s-ttl|order=15th|title=Director of [[National Institutes of Health]] |years=2002–2008}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Francis Collins (geneticist)|Francis Collins]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Francis Collins]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{National Institutes of Health}}


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[[Category:Algerian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American people of Algerian-Berber descent]]
[[Category:Johns Hopkins University faculty]]
[[Category:Muslims from Maryland]]
[[Category:Johns Hopkins University faculty|Zerhounia, Elias]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:University of Algiers alumni]]
[[Category:University of Algiers alumni]]
[[Category:Algerian academics]]
[[Category:Algerian physicians]]
[[Category:Radiologists]]
[[Category:People from Nedroma]]
[[Category:Sanofi people]]
[[Category:Members of the National Academy of Medicine]]
[[Category:Members of the National Academy of Medicine]]
[[Category:Sanofi people]]
[[Category:George W. Bush administration personnel]]
[[Category:George W. Bush administration personnel]]

Revision as of 21:17, 4 May 2025

"Zerhouni" redirects here. For other people with this surname, see Zerhouni (surname).
Elias Zerhouni
Elias Zerhouni
15th Director of the National Institutes of Health
In office
May 2, 2002 – October 31, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byHarold Varmus
Succeeded byFrancis Collins
Personal details
Born (1951-04-12) April 12, 1951 (age 74)
Nedroma, Algeria
CitizenshipUnited States
NationalityAlgerian-American
Alma materUniversity of Algiers
Known for
Scientific career
FieldsMedical imaging
Institutions

Elias Zerhouni (in Arabic: إلياس زرهوني) (born April 12, 1951) is an Algerian-born American radiologist, biomedical engineer, and pharmaceutical executive. He served as the 15th Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 2002 to 2008.

Zerhouni spent part of his academic career at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he held leadership roles including executive vice dean (1996–2002). From 2011 to 2018, he served as President of Global Research and Development at Sanofi. In 2020, he co-founded ModeX Therapeutics, a company developing immunotherapies, which was later acquired by OPKO Health in 2022. As of 2025, he serves as President and Vice Chairman of OPKO Health.

Education and career

Zerhouni was born in Nedroma, Algeria. After receiving his M.D. from the University of Algiers in 1975, he moved to the United States to continue medical training at Johns Hopkins University. He held several academic and administrative positions there, becoming a full professor in 1992 and chair of the radiology department in 1996.

From 1981 to 1985, he was vice chair of the Department of Radiology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. In addition to academic work, Zerhouni contributed to imaging technologies and co-invented a method for image-guided breast biopsy. He has also been involved in the establishment of medical imaging companies.

Director of the NIH (2002–2008)

In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Zerhouni as Director of the National Institutes of Health. His tenure included:

  • Launching the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
  • Supporting the NIH Reform Act of 2006
  • Promoting initiatives in neuroscience, women's health, and public access to research
  • Reforming peer review processes
  • Advocating for early-stage investigators

He was reportedly the first immigrant to serve as NIH Director.[citation needed]

Post-NIH career

In 2009, Zerhouni served as a science envoy under the Obama administration and was a senior fellow at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He later joined Sanofi as head of global R&D, serving until 2018.

In 2020, he co-founded ModeX Therapeutics, which was acquired by OPKO Health in 2022. In 2023, ModeX partnered with Merck & Co. to develop an Epstein–Barr virus vaccine.

Honors and memberships

References

Government offices
Preceded by 15th Director of National Institutes of Health
2002–2008 		Succeeded by
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