Lawrence A. Tabak (born 1951) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

dentist A dentist, also known as a dental doctor, dental physician, dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry, the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. The dentist's supporting team aids in provi ...

and

biomedical scientist A biomedical scientist is a scientist trained in biology, particularly in the context of medical laboratory sciences or laboratory medicine. These scientists work to gain knowledge on the main principles of how the human body works and to find new ...

serving as the principal deputy director of the

National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It was founded in 1887 and is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Service ...

. He served as acting director from 2021 to 2023. Previously he was the director of the

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is a branch of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The institute aims to improve the oral, dental, and craniofacial health through research and the distribution of important ...

from 2000 to 2010.

Education

Tabak is a native of

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, New York. He received his undergraduate degree from

City College of New York The City College of the City University of New York (also known as the City College of New York, or simply City College or CCNY) is a Public university, public research university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York ...

, his D.D.S. from

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, often abbreviated CDM, is one of the 21 graduate and professional schools of Columbia University. It is located at 630 West 168th Street in Manhattan, New York City. According to American Den ...

, and both a Ph.D. and a specialty certificate in

endodontics Endodontics () is the Specialty (dentistry), dental specialty concerned with the study and treatment of the dental pulp. Overview Endodontics encompasses the study (practice) of the basic and clinical sciences of normal dental pulp, the etiolo ...

from the

University at Buffalo The State University of New York at Buffalo (commonly referred to as UB, University at Buffalo, and sometimes SUNY Buffalo) is a public university, public research university in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo and Amherst, New York, United States. ...

. Tabak's 1981 dissertation was titled ''Structural and functional studies of monkey salivary mucin''.

Career

Tabak was the senior associate dean for research and professor of dentistry and biochemistry and biophysics in the

University of Rochester Medical Center The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), now known as UR Medicine, is located in Rochester, New York, is a medical complex on the main campus of the University of Rochester and comprises the university's primary medical education, resea ...

. He was a

National Institutes of Health MERIT Award The NIH MERIT award (Method To Extend Research in Time) Award (R37) was created by the National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical an ...

recipient, Tabak's major research focus has been on the structure, biosynthesis and function of glycoproteins. He continued working in this area, maintaining an active research laboratory within the NIH intramural program, in addition to his administrative duties. Tabak served as the director of the

from 2000 to 2010. He served as acting NIH deputy director in 2009 and was the acting director of the

Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives The Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) is a division of the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health of the United States of America. DPCPSI was formally established as part of implemen ...

. Tabak succeeded Raynard S. Kington as the NIH principal deputy director in August 2010. Tabak serves as the deputy ethics counselor of the NIH. In October 2019, Tabak succeeded Ann K. Cashion as the acting director of the

National Institute of Nursing Research The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), as part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, supports clinical and basic research to establish a Evidence-based medicine, scientific basis for the Nurse, nursing care of individuals across ...

. He was succeeded by Schwetz in January 2020. On December 20, 2021, Tabak succeeded

Francis Collins Francis Sellers Collins (born April 14, 1950) is an American physician-scientist who discovered the genes associated with a number of diseases and led the Human Genome Project. He served as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ...

as acting director of the NIH. Tara A. Schwetz will serve in Tabak's previous role as the acting principal deputy director of the NIH. Tabak retired from the National Institutes of Health on February 11, 2025.

Controversies

Tabak, along with Admiral

Rachel Levine Rachel Leland Levine ( ; born October 28, 1957) is an American pediatrician who served as the United States assistant secretary for health, the admiral in charge of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, from 2021 until 20 ...

, was accused of suppression of the

National Toxicology Program The National Toxicology Program (NTP) is an inter-agency program run by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate, evaluate, and report on toxicology within public agencies. The National Toxicology Program is head ...

(NTP) publication of a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on fluoride exposure and cognition days before its projected May 2022 publication. The NTP findings were subsequently published in August 2024 and January 2025 after the intercession of Judge

Edward M. Chen Edward Milton Chen (born January 20, 1953) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. He was appointed in 2011 by President Barack Obama. H ...

Awards and honors

Tabak is an elected member the

National Academy of Medicine The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), known as the Institute of Medicine (IoM) until 2015, is an American nonprofit, non-governmental organization. The National Academy of Medicine is a part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineerin ...

. He is a

Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellowship of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (FAAAS) is an honor accorded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to distinguished persons who are members of the Association. Fellows are elected ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tabak, Lawrence A. 21st-century American scientists American dentistry academics City College of New York alumni Columbia University College of Dental Medicine alumni Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Living people Members of the National Academy of Medicine National Institutes of Health people Place of birth missing (living people) Scientists from Brooklyn University at Buffalo alumni University of Rochester faculty 1951 births Biden administration personnel 21st-century American dentists