On Sept. 30, 2009, Duane Alexander, MD, will leave his position as director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a job he has held for more than 23 years. Alexander is taking on an assignment to assemble and implement the NIH components of a new initiative to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity in less developed countries.

Susan Shurin, MD, currently the Deputy Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, will serve as Acting Director of NICHD, while a search is conducted for a new permanent director.