Varmus Means Business

Speaking to National Cancer Institute staffers this week, Harold Varmus — the agency's newly installed director — "said he plans to review all NCI programs, address 'dysfunction,' and come up with a list of big questions that block progress against cancer," Science Insider reports. Specifically, Varmus "will begin by overhauling NCI's cooperative clinical trials system, making greater use of NIH's clinical center, and working on ways to speed cancer drug approvals," according to Science. He also said that "he will be 'strenuous in my insistence' about ensuring access to data, research materials, and publications," Science reports. Varmus also told attendees not to expect "budget magic." Science Insider adds that Douglas Lowy will serve as Varmus' deputy director when Anna Barker, deputy director under former NCI director John Niederhuber, leaves her post in August.