NIGMS Bids Farewell to Berg

National Institute of General Medical Sciences Director Jeremy Berg is stepping down from his post to become associate senior vice chancellor for science strategy and planning in the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, according to a National Institutes of Health release. Upon Berg's departure from NIGMS at the end of June 2011, the agency will name an acting director should a search for a new director still be underway. Berg says that he made the decision to leave NIGMS in order to support his wife's career. Berg, who joined the agency more than seven years ago, adds at the NIGMS Feedback Loop blog that his "time at NIGMS has been one of the highlights of my career. ... While I am very sad to leave such an outstanding organization, I am confident that it will be in good hands." Blogger DrugMonkey calls Berg's decision "a loss for the NIGMS," but says that the director's decision to support his family is "another classy bit of legacy that Berg brings to the table."