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The WSJ has the tale of NIH Director Francis S. Collins on the ropes and patients locked out of lifesaving cancer trials because of two vials of samples contaminated by fungus in an NIH hospital pharmacy. Collins tried to handle the incident with transparency, but the ensuing investigation spiraled into a larger hit on the research hospital's practices and angered doctors who felt it drew flawed conclusions, especially regarding patient safety.
Money quote #1: "His decisions appear to have boomeranged."
Money quote #2: "Morale has sunk to an all-time low."
Why it matters: Collins wants to keep his job, although President-elect Trump is looking at other candidates too. It might not help his chances if his own doctors and scientists are talking trash about him.