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Katherine (Kate) Klimczak.

I am pleased to announce the selection of Katherine (Kate) Klimczak as the NIH Associate Director for Legislative Policy and Analysis and Director of the NIH Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (OLPA). She will begin her role on October 22, 2023.

Ms. Klimczak returns to NIH from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which she joined in 2019 to serve as Deputy Director for the Office for Congressional Appropriations. She has served as Acting Director of the office since June 2022. While with FDA, Ms. Klimczak oversaw the formulation and execution of FDA’s annual appropriations strategy; advised senior FDA leadership on actions, policies and issues concerning appropriations, legislation and oversight activities; and managed the implementation of legislative action plans to ensure that the FDA complied with legislative requirements.

Previously at NIH, Ms. Klimczak served as a Senior Legislative Analyst in OLPA. In this role, she managed NIH’s interactions and relationships with Congressional Appropriation Committees. She also led negotiations with Congress for NIH’s budget and legislative needs to advance the NIH’s mission to improve lives through biomedical research. At HHS, Ms. Klimczak served as a Congressional Liaison Specialist, formulating legislative appropriations strategies for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Ms. Klimczak has a bachelor’s degree in government from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Policy from Duke University. Bringing a wealth of institutional knowledge to this position, Ms. Klimczak will leverage her relationships to build and strengthen support for NIH biomedical research.

I am very grateful to Ms. Lauren Higgins for serving as the Acting Director for OLPA since February 2023. She has filled this role with great professionalism and dedication. Ms. Higgins will continue her important contributions to NIH in her role as the OLPA Deputy Director.

Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Acting NIH Director