Francis Collins, former NIH director on science and God

But if I had been outside of NIH, not in one of those big research places, I’m not sure that would have been the same story. We’ve got work to do to make sure that everybody in America has access to the very best care for their particular circumstance. That’s not easy to do in a complicated health care system that’s got all kinds of incentives that are not always aligned with the best outcome for the patient. 

On the idea that the NIH could weather another Trump administration:

I think if the past is prologue, yes. NIH has been able to do its job through all kinds of political changes. I was there for 12 years, and I was appointed by George W. Bush. I was reappointed by Barack Obama. I was then reappointed by Donald Trump. It’s about the science. It’s about the mission. It’s about the commitment to trying to make a difference in health. And I think that will continue. It’s not easy when you have sometimes political winds that are blowing in your face, but the engine is pretty strong. 

NIH has a lot of support on the Hill, by the way. Republicans and Democrats alike — when it comes to the mission of medical research and trying to improve the health of Americans, the support is very strong. So, I think NIH will be fine whatever comes along in terms of political changes. 

On what he hopes to achieve with his new book:

I’m hoping that people who have not thought about this intersection of faith and science might be provoked by this to do so, or if they have, to dig deeper. This is not a simple book; it’s not a superficial book. It’s got a lot of depth to it. I hope people will read it and say, “You know, I hadn’t thought about that before. Maybe I should.” And maybe they’ll have some conversations with other people that might be interesting. 

I hope that’s going to be the outcome. It’s not a book that’s going to be on the bestseller list. It’s a book that’s going to be in the hands of a bunch of people who are really interested in this particular intersection and want to go a little deeper. 

Collins’ new book, “The Road to Wisdom,” is available now in bookstores and online. It offers a unique perspective on the intersection of faith and science, drawing on Collins’ experiences as a scientist, doctor, and devout Christian. Whether you agree with his views or not, one thing is for sure: Francis Collins is a fascinating figure whose insights are worth exploring.