Dr Belinda Seto has been named deputy director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) effective immediately. In this position, Dr Seto will work directly with Dr Roderic I Pettigrew, director of NIBIB to oversee all aspects of the institute's operations.

Dr Seto comes to this position following a nearly one-year tenure as acting deputy director for Extramural Research (DDER) at the NIH where she served as advisor to the NIH director on extramural policy issues and was responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures for extramural research and training programs funded by the NIH. Prior to the acting DDER position, Dr Seto served as deputy director of the Office of Extramural Research (OER) and the director of the Office of Reports and Analysis in the OER.

Established in 2001, the NIBIB's mission is to improve health by promoting fundamental discoveries, design and development, and translation of enabling technologies in biomedical imaging and bioengineering. The Institute is unique among NIH institutes and centres in that it not only conducts and supports focused and multidisciplinary research and training programs, but also is charged with coordinating bioengineering and imaging efforts across the NIH and other Federal agencies.

"Dr Seto's more than nine years of experience in the NIH's Office of Extramural Research have given her unique perspectives on institute operations, organizational management, extramural research and training programs, and trans-institute and inter-agency coordination and collaboration. This experience will be extremely valuable to the NIBIB as the Institute grows and our programs continue to develop," said Dr Pettigrew.

Dr Elias Zerhouni, director of the NIH, said "Dr Seto has provided the NIH with exemplary leadership during her time as acting deputy director of the Office of Extramural Research. She will bring to the NIBIB an exceptional set of research and management skills that will enhance the work and continued growth of the institute."

Dr Seto received her PhD in biochemistry from Purdue University. She has been with the NIH since 1974.