NIH Director Francis Collins Nears Retirement Announcement

Francis Collins, the doctor and geneticist who has led the U.S. National Institutes of Health through three presidential administrations, is expected to soon announce plans to retire, people familiar with the matter said.

The move would leave a key position to fill in the government’s pandemic response team. An announcement is expected as soon as Tuesday, said two of the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Collins and the White House didn’t respond to a request for comment, and NIH had no immediate response.

Collins, 71, was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. Lawrence …