AACN Applauds the Selection of Dr. Courtney Aklin as Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research

On July 24, 2026, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced the appointment of Dr. Courtney F. Aklin as the director of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) applauds the selection of Dr. Aklin to lead the institute, which plays a pivotal role in the research training, career development, and the preparation of the next generation of nurse scientists.

“On behalf of academic nursing, AACN welcomes Dr. Aklin as NINR’s fourth permanent director,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with her to advance research priorities that position nursing science to address complex health challenges and improve health for all.”

Dr. Courtney Aklin is a longtime NIH leader who has served for more than two decades in scientific, strategic, and executive leadership roles across the agency. Since joining NIH in 2004 as an American Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology Policy Fellow, she has held senior positions at the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the NIH Office of the Director. Her work has focused on behavioral and translational science, strengthening research organizations, expanding biomedical research capacity, and accelerating the translation of scientific evidence into improved health outcomes.

In her work as NINR’s Acting Director and Acting Scientific Director since April 2025 and throughout her career, Dr. Aklin has been a strong advocate for advancing nursing science, healthcare research, and the development of the nursing workforce. Earlier in her NIH tenure, she directed programs designed to expand research capacity and strengthen the biomedical workforce at universities and medical schools. In her new role, she will oversee NINR's nearly $200 million research portfolio, including programs that support nursing education through research training, mentorship, and career development opportunities for nurse scientists across the United States.

Advocating for NINR funding and expansion has been a key component of AACN’s federal policy agenda since the institute was formalized in 1993. Each year, AACN joins with the Nursing Community Coalition and the larger healthcare community to advocate for continued funding of NINR and its programs, which are essential to preparing nurse researchers and scientists. For more information on the value and impact of NINR, see AACN’s one-page overview and the Face of Academic Nursing information hub.