Senate Confirms Califf as FDA Commissioner

The US Senate, by a vote of 89 to 4, confirmed Robert Califf as FDA commissioner on Feb. 24, 2016.

Califf was nominated for the FDA post in September 2015. He joined FDA in February 2015 as deputy commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco, providing leadership to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, the Center for Tobacco Products, and  the Office of Special Medical Program.

Prior to joining the FDA, Califf was a professor of medicine and vice chancellor for clinical and translational research at Duke University, served as director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute and founding director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

"Today the U.S. Senate voted in support of the confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf, M.D. to be Commissioner of U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Califf has demonstrated a long and deep commitment to advancing the public health throughout his distinguished career as a physician, researcher, and leader in the fields of science and medicine.  He understands well the critical role that the FDA plays in responding to the changes in our society while protecting and promoting the health of the public, across the many areas we regulate – and I am confident that our public health and scientific contributions will further grow under his exceptional leadership," Stephen Ostroff, acting commission of FDA, said a statement.

The position of FDA commissioner was vacated in March 2015 when Margaret Hamburg stepped down after a six-year tenure.

Source: FDA