Vinay Prasad, a well-known oncologist-hematologist, has been appointed as the new director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA). CBER is responsible for overseeing the review of vaccines, blood products, and certain genetic medicines, according to a report by the Times of India.
FDA Commissioner Martin Makary announced Prasad's appointment, praising his "scientific rigor, independence, and transparency" in a post on X. "Dr. Prasad brings the kind of scientific rigor, independence, and transparency we need at CBER—a significant step forward," Makary added.
As per the TOI report,Prasad is known particularly for his outspoken views on public health policies and vaccine-related issues. He has become a regular voice in health policy debates, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prasad expressed skepticism regarding social distancing measures, the vaccine for children, and criticised Trump for his handling of the pandemic, including his use of unproven medicines and refusal to wear a facemask.
In addition to his medical research, Prasad is known for his candid opinions, which he shares in various platforms, including his Substack newsletter, Sensible Medicine, and his podcast, The Plenary Session. He is also the author of the books "Malignant: How Bad Policy and Bad Evidence Harm People with Cancer" and "Ending Medical Reversal: Improving Outcomes, Saving Lives."
Prasad's career began with a strong academic foundation. Born in the US to Indian immigrant parents, he grew up in Ohio and Chicago. He attended Michigan State University, where he studied healthcare ethics and physiology. After earning his medical degree from the University of Chicago in 2009, he completed a residency in internal medicine at Northwestern University in 2012. He served as an assistant and associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University from 2015 to 2020 before moving to San Francisco General Hospital. He is currently a full professor of hematology-oncology at UCSF.
His appointment comes as the FDA continues to face scrutiny and debate over its role in vaccine approval processes and public health policies. Prasad’s leadership at CBER is expected to bring a new perspective to the FDA's regulatory approach.
(With inputs from TOI)
FDA Commissioner Martin Makary announced Prasad's appointment, praising his "scientific rigor, independence, and transparency" in a post on X. "Dr. Prasad brings the kind of scientific rigor, independence, and transparency we need at CBER—a significant step forward," Makary added.
As per the TOI report,Prasad is known particularly for his outspoken views on public health policies and vaccine-related issues. He has become a regular voice in health policy debates, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prasad expressed skepticism regarding social distancing measures, the vaccine for children, and criticised Trump for his handling of the pandemic, including his use of unproven medicines and refusal to wear a facemask.
In addition to his medical research, Prasad is known for his candid opinions, which he shares in various platforms, including his Substack newsletter, Sensible Medicine, and his podcast, The Plenary Session. He is also the author of the books "Malignant: How Bad Policy and Bad Evidence Harm People with Cancer" and "Ending Medical Reversal: Improving Outcomes, Saving Lives."
Prasad's career began with a strong academic foundation. Born in the US to Indian immigrant parents, he grew up in Ohio and Chicago. He attended Michigan State University, where he studied healthcare ethics and physiology. After earning his medical degree from the University of Chicago in 2009, he completed a residency in internal medicine at Northwestern University in 2012. He served as an assistant and associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University from 2015 to 2020 before moving to San Francisco General Hospital. He is currently a full professor of hematology-oncology at UCSF.
His appointment comes as the FDA continues to face scrutiny and debate over its role in vaccine approval processes and public health policies. Prasad’s leadership at CBER is expected to bring a new perspective to the FDA's regulatory approach.
(With inputs from TOI)
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