by Susan F. Wood, PhD

On Wednesday Feb 21 at 3:00, the project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy at GWU School of Public Health and Health Services is hosting what hopefully will be a very exciting afternoon.  Former Commissioners of the FDA will gather to discuss the future of FDA, bringing their experience and priorities together for an unscripted public conversation.  FDA faces many challenges - some new, some old - but we need new ideas to help shape the upcoming legislative proposals that Congress will be taking up this year.  Hearing from several former commissioners, including David Kessler, Jane Henney, Don Kennedy, Frank Young and hopefully Mark McClellan will bring focus to the critical functioning of FDA. 

This “Conversation with FDA Commissioners” is open to the public and the press and will be webcast the next day on Kaisernetwork.org.  It will be held from  3:00-5:00 on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Jack Morton Auditorium, 805 21st St. NW, Washington, DC 20052.  If you would like to attend rsvp to Janet at eohjip@gwumc.edu .

The following day, an invitation only workshop of former FDA leaders, scientists, and legal experts will gather to discuss issues of how to improve the use of science at the FDA, the impact of resources, and independance. 

With PDUFA reauthorization just around the corner, new but limited initiatives underway on drug safety, ongoing problems with food safety, and a host of other FDA issues, now is the time to get new ideas on the table.  (Background on this issues is available on SKAPP’s website.) Hopefully these efforts will add to the conversation. 

Susan Wood is Research Professor at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, where she is part of the Project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy (SKAPP).