Dr. Maria Freire was recently named president of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. She will begin her tenure on Nov. 1.

Freire, who is currently a member of the advisory committee to the NIH director, comes to FNIH from the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, where she served as president since 2008. Prior to joining the Lasker Foundation, she served as president and CEO of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development from 2001 to 2008, director of NIH’s Office of Technology Transfer from 1995 to 2001, and led the Office of Technology Development at the University of Maryland at Baltimore and the University of Maryland Baltimore County from 1989 to 1995.

The recipient of numerous awards, including the HHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service, the Arthur S. Flemming Award and the Bayh-Dole Award, Freire was also awarded a Fulbright fellowship as well as two U.S. Congressional science fellowships.

Freire received her bachelor of science degree at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru and her Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of Virginia. She has also completed post-graduate work in immunology and virology at the University of Virginia and the University of Tennessee, respectively.

In a release, FNIH noted Freire “has devoted her career to improving health and health research on a global scale and she will bring this same energy and expertise to the foundation. She has a proven record of innovative and strategic leadership, creative interdisciplinary team building and outstanding entrepreneurial and organizational skills. Dr. Freire will engage these same skills to achieve the vision and mission of the FNIH, creating innovative partnerships with a broad range of constituents and leading the organization with energy, intelligence and vision.”

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