Lawrence A. Tabak (born 1951[1]) is an American dentist and biomedical scientist serving as the principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health.

[3] Tabak was the senior associate dean for research and professor of dentistry and biochemistry and biophysics in the University of Rochester Medical Center.

He was a National Institutes of Health MERIT Award recipient, Tabak's major research focus has been on the structure, biosynthesis and function of glycoproteins.

He continued working in this area, maintaining an active research laboratory within the NIH intramural program, in addition to his administrative duties.

[4] In October 2019, Tabak succeeded Ann K. Cashion as the acting director of the National Institute of Nursing Research.