President Joe Biden this week nominated cancer specialist Dr. Monica Bertagnolli for director of the National Institutes of Health — a move that has already generated controversy because of Bertagnolli’s financial ties to Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the recently retired director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also part of the NIH, told The Washington Post that he personally advocated for Bertagnolli’s nomination, citing her “very solid” academic record.

“She’s got the kind of personality that I think is important for the director of NIH,” Fauci said.