Jim O’Neill is an American science and technology investor with a diverse background in both government and private sectors. He earned a B.A. in Humanities from Yale University and an A.M. in Humanities from the University of Chicago.

Government Career:
O’Neill’s public service began with roles at the U.S. Department of Education and as Director of the Speech and Editorial Division at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the George W. Bush administration. He later served as Associate Deputy Secretary and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of HHS, focusing on policy formulation for various HHS components. His tenure at HHS culminated as Principal Associate Deputy Secretary, where he provided advice on policy and programming, with a portfolio that included the FDA, NIH, and global health initiatives.

Private Sector Career:
Transitioning to the private sector, O’Neill was CEO of the Thiel Foundation from 2009 to 2012 and a managing director at Mithril Capital Management from 2012 to 2019. He co-founded the Thiel Fellowship in 2010, encouraging young entrepreneurs to pursue innovative projects, and Breakout Labs in 2011, providing funding to food science and biotech firms. From 2019 to July 2021, he served as CEO of the SENS Research Foundation, focusing on research into age-related diseases.

Views and Advocacy:
O’Neill is known for his unconventional views on drug approval processes, advocating for reforms to expedite the availability of treatments. He has suggested that the FDA should approve drugs based solely on safety, allowing efficacy to be proven post-approval. Additionally, he has opposed FDA regulation of companies using mathematical algorithms for complex laboratory-developed tests, promoting freer markets for healthcare goods and services.

Recent Developments:
In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated O’Neill to serve as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., pending Senate confirmation. This nomination indicates a potential shift in HHS policies toward fostering innovation and streamlining regulatory procedures.