Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy sat through the first of two confirmation hearings Wednesday morning.

The health committee chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., also has expressed concerns about Kennedy's anti-vaccine work. A physician, Cassidy said earlier this month he “had a frank conversation” and “spoke about vaccines at length” with Kennedy. On Tuesday, Cassidy told reporters that he is still unsure if he is backing Trump’s nominee.

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Junior, fielded tough questions during his confirmation hearing.

RFK Jr. claimed he is not “anti-vaccine” and appeared unfamiliar with key aspects of healthcare insurance programs in his confirmation hearing.

In this week’s edition of InnovationRx, we look at HHS nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first Senate confirmation hearing, the chaos at the NIH and with federal research funding, new dosages for an Alzheimer’s drug, a major tuberculosis outbreak, and more. To get it in your inbox, subscribe here.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s grilling by the Senate Finance Committee comes amid a flurry of campaigns and letters from doctors, patient advocacy groups and others, both supporting and opposing his nomination.

The hearings were packed to capacity with protesters and fans, while the spillover crowd hung out in hallways and overflow rooms.