The Lasker Foundation announced today that Maria Freire will replace president Neen Hunt on March 1 of next year.

Freire was most recently CEO of the non-profit Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, and previously directed the Office of Technology Transfer at the NIH.

Hunt, 65, has been president since 1995. She said she will work to support medical research philanthropy, according to the foundation's spokesperson, Kendall Christiansen.

After six years at the TB Alliance, Freire announced this summer that she was leaving to undertake new challenges. "Advancing the field of medical research in the 21st century is increasingly a global imperative, and I welcome the invitation to bring my experience and passion for medical science to serve as the Foundation's next president," Freire said in a statement.

This year, Ralph Steinman won the Lasker in Basic Research for his discovery of dendritic cells. Two cardiologists responsible for creating mechanical and animal-derived heart valves, Alain Carpentier and Albert Starr, won the Clinical Research Award, and Anthony Fauci received this year's Public Service Award for his work on AIDS and biodefense.