Krensky Named to Newly Created NIH Post.

STANFORD, Calif. -- Alan Krensky, MD, professor of pediatrics (immunology) at the Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of immunology and transplantation biology at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, has been selected by the National Institutes of Health as the agency's first deputy director for the Office of Portfolio Analysis and Strategic Initiatives.

The office's goal is to accelerate critical research efforts that address major, interdisciplinary NIH priorities by facilitating dialogue, decision-making and funding.

"I am pleased and honored to join the NIH leadership team at this most important time," said Krensky. "My interdisciplinary experiences at Stanford and Packard Children's will be invaluable as I move into this next phase of my career." Krensky, who is the Shelagh Galligan Professor in the School of Medicine, will assume his new position at the NIH on July 8.

NIH director Elias Zerhouni, MD, said the agency is fortunate to have Krensky come on board. "He will play a key role as OPASI provides an 'incubator space' to address critical research efforts in cross-cutting areas of NIH priorities,"Zerhouni said.

Since 2000, Krensky has also been executive director of the $500 million Children's Health Initiative at Packard Children's.

Philip Pizzo, MD, dean of the School of Medicine, said Krensky "made numerous and significant contributions as a physician-scientist as well as one of the key architects of the Children's Health Initiative. He was instrumental in guiding both key initiatives and important recruitments that have helped transform Stanford pediatrics and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital."

Christopher Dawes, the president and CEO of Packard Children's, said, "Everyone at our hospital is thrilled that Dr. Krensky will have such an important leadership role at the NIH. His selection is further evidence that Packard Children's has assembled a pre-eminent group of the best physicians and researchers in the country."

Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions --Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.

Ranked as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and Child magazine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 264-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard Children's offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services -- from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit http://www.lpch.org.