Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Selects Sethi for NIMH Director
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. bypassed the search committee to appoint Dr. Shebani Sethi as the new director of the NIMH.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Mental Health
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has selected Dr. Shebani Sethi to lead the National Institute of Mental Health. Sethi, known for her work in metabolic psychiatry, was chosen over Vikaas Sohal, who had been vetted by the search committee.
Why it matters
The appointment signals a strategic shift for the agency toward candidates aligned with the Make America Healthy Again movement. This move comes as the National Institutes of Health continues to manage a high rate of leadership vacancies across its centers.
Sethi earned her M.D. and Ph.D. in 2013 and coined the term metabolic psychiatry in 2015. Notably, she has never received an NIH grant, whereas the runner-up, Vikaas Sohal, managed a laboratory for 16 years with multiple institute grants.
The players
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
He is a central figure in the Make America Healthy Again movement and currently holds authority over federal health appointments.
Shebani Sethi
She is a physician and researcher recognized for developing the field of metabolic psychiatry at Stanford.
Vikaas Sohal
He is an established laboratory director and grant recipient who was considered for the NIMH leadership position.
National Institute of Mental Health
This federal agency is the lead research institution in the United States for mental disorders.
National Institutes of Health
This organization serves as the primary medical research agency of the U.S. federal government.
The details
Shebani Sethi, a former Stanford psychiatry resident, focuses on using ketogenic and specialized diets to treat mental illnesses. In 2024, she published preliminary trial data examining the effects of a ketogenic diet on patients taking schizophrenia medication.
Timeline
Shebani Sethi earned her M.D. and Ph.D. in 2013.
Shebani Sethi coined the term metabolic psychiatry in 2015.
Sethi published preliminary ketogenic diet trial data in 2024.
Health Landscape
The appointment marks a significant departure from traditional NIH leadership selection criteria, prioritizing alignment with the Make America Healthy Again movement. This shift occurs as federal health agencies undergo a broader transformation in research priorities and leadership personnel.
The transition to new leadership at the NIMH could influence future funding for clinical studies involving metabolic psychiatry and specialized dietary interventions. Patients interested in these alternative mental health protocols may see shifts in the research landscape regarding treatment accessibility.
The takeaway
This appointment signals a pivot toward non-traditional therapeutic approaches within the federal research framework. Researchers and patients should watch for future NIH grant priorities as the new leadership establishes its agenda.
Further reading
For more on evolving research priorities, visit the Mental Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Energy Central.
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