BUSH TO ANNOUNCE NEW NCI DIRECTOR

President Bush will soon name John Niederhuber the next director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), taking the place of the nominee to run the FDA, Andrew von Eschenbach.

Niederhuber served as the institute's chief operating officer and deputy director for translational and clinical sciences until he was named acting director in June, according to an Aug. 15 White House release.

Officials such as HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt praised Niederhuber, saying his "commitment to service and experience as a surgeon, a laboratory scientist and a leader in translating lab advances into treatments for patients will serve NCI and the nation well."

Von Eschenbach left the NCI to pursue the FDA commissioner's slot, but his nomination has been stalled by controversy over the agency's handling of the Plan B contraceptive.