Karen Johnston, MD, MSc, Fel ’97, has been appointed to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Council of Councils. The council was established to advise the NIH Director on policies and activities of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), including making recommendations on research that represents important areas of emerging scientific opportunities, rising public health challenges, or knowledge gaps that deserve special emphasis or would otherwise benefit from strategic planning and coordination. The council is composed of 27 members nominated by the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) and offices within the Office of the Director (OD). Council members bring knowledge of their individual IC and OD offices’ missions and operations, not as official representatives, but to provide advice beyond the research agenda of any individual IC.

Johnston is the Harrison Distinguished Professor of Neurology and associate vice president for clinical and translational research at the University of Virginia.