Patricia A. Grady, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a renowned neuroscientist and scientific leader who led the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) for more than two decades, leaving an indelible mark on the discipline of nursing science.

Dr. Grady’s early research focused on stroke, with an emphasis on arterial stenosis and cerebral ischemia. With this background, she joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1988 as a program administrator at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, ultimately serving as its Deputy and Acting Director.

In 1995, Dr. Grady became the second permanent Director of NINR, a role she held until 2018. Under her remarkable leadership, NINR grew from supporting the science of patient care to establishing nursing science as an integral part of health research and an essential component of the NIH mission. During her time as director, NINR-supported investigators made countless discoveries that have improved health and quality of life for individuals, families, and communities around the world. An integral step Dr. Grady took to further integrate NINR into the NIH enterprise was to oversee the development of a strong intramural research program, becoming a leader in symptom science research at NIH. Recognizing the collaborative nature of nursing science, she championed NINR as a home for interdisciplinary research, with NINR-supported scientists leading teams of nurses, physicians, engineers, and others to develop cutting-edge technologies.

Known for her interest in developing the next generation of nursing scientists, she devoted more resources as a percentage of its budget than nearly any other NIH institute or center to extramural training awards that have supported new scientists. Moreover, she led the development of the NINR’s Summer Genetics Institute and Symptom Methodologies Bootcamps, launching the careers of many scientific leaders. Dr. Grady's influence extended across the NIH enterprise through her leadership of trans-NIH initiatives including the Pain Consortium, the Public Trust Initiative, and the Science of Behavior Change Initiative.

Her many honors include being elected a member of the Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine), the NIH Merit Award, the Public Health Service Superior Service Award for Exceptional Leadership, and the Surgeon General's Award for Outstanding Leadership in Public Service. Dr. Grady was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1996.