The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a new leader, and 13 of the agency's 192 member states have nominated candidates. The incumbent director general, South Korea's Jong-Wook Lee, died suddenly on 22 May, just three years into his five-year term. The WHO's 34-nation executive board will whittle down the list and present a name to the World Health Assembly on 9 November. The race is more crowded than expected, and two permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and France, have ignored convention by nominating candidates. The secret voting and political nature of the selection process make predicting the frontrunner difficult—Lee himself was a surprise winner in 2003—but here are some of the leading contenders.

Margaret Chan, China

Credit: WHO

W HO: The WHO's assistant director-general of communicable diseases since 2005.

B IO: Served for nine years as director of health in Hong Kong, where she tackled bird flu and SARS. Has led the WHO's communicable diseases surveillance and response program for a year.

O DDS: China's first nominee for the job, Chan's experience with SARS and bird flu make her a formidable candidate. The position generally rotates among continents, and Chan could get an additional boost if Asian countries push for a candidate because Lee's term was cut short.

Julio Frenk, Mexico

Credit: WHO

W HO: Mexico's minister of health since 2000.

B IO: Is credited with implementing reforms to bring health coverage to Mexico's uninsured millions. As a senior WHO official from 1998 to 2000, analyzed health situations and trends.

O DDS: Frenk made the first cut in the 2003 race but lost to Lee, and is making a big push for the position this time around. He could edge out Omi and Chan with his depth of experience, or if voters follow the unwritten rule of rotating the top post among continents: of the last four director-generals, two have been Asian and two European.

Shigeru Omi, Japan

Credit: WHO

W HO: WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific since 1999.

B IO: Worked on immunization and communicable diseases at the WHO and has extensive experience battling bird flu and SARS.

O DDS: A leading contender, Omi also brings extensive experience with SARS and bird flu to the job. Though Asian countries might expect to claim the winner, fierce competition between China and Japan could knock Omi and Chan out of the race early on.

Pekka Puska, Finland

Credit: KTL/Ilari Jarvinen

W HO: Director of Finland's National Public Health Institute since 2003.

B IO: An expert in chronic diseases and head of the WHO's noncommunicable disease prevention program from 2001 to 2003.

O DDS: Puska's expertise in running a major health agency and pioneering public health programs makes him a candidate to watch.

Pascoal Mocumbi, Mozambique

Credit: Declan Butler

W HO: High representative of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership since 2004.

B IO: Prime minister of Mozambique from 1994 to 2004; a trained clinician, he works to accelerate drugs for malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

O DDS: Mocumbi's active role in global health initiatives earned him a place on the WHO director-general shortlist in 2003. His experience and position as the lone African nominee make him a strong candidate, but at 65, his age could work against him.

Others in the Running

Kazem Behbehani, Kuwait, special envoy to the WHO director general since 2005

David Gunnarsson, permanent secretary of Iceland's health and social security ministry

Nay Htun, Myanmar, former UN assistant secretary general

Karam Karam, former Lebanese health minister

Bernard Kouchner, France, founder of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)

Alfredo Palacio, interim president of Ecuador and surgeon.

Elena Salgado, Spain's health minister

Tomris Türmen, Turkey, WHO's executive director of family and community health