Anthony Letai a top candidate to be National Cancer Institute director

Angus Chen covers all issues broadly related to cancer including drugs, policy, science, and equity. He joined STAT in 2021 after covering health and science at NPR and NPR affiliate stations. His work has been recognized by national Edward R. Murrow awards, the June L. Biedler prize for cancer journalism, and more. You can reach Angus on Signal at angus.08.

Anthony Letai, a cancer researcher and oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University, has emerged as a leading candidate to be the next director of the National Cancer Institute, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

The NCI is the largest institute or center at the National Institutes of Health and the only institute where the director is appointed by the President. A Health and Human Services spokesman declined to comment.  

Word that Letai might be the next NCI director spread rapidly through the cancer research community. Cancer scientists who spoke with STAT expressed relief that Letai, who they described as both kind and an excellent, highly qualified scientist and physician, would likely lead the nation’s most important cancer research office.