On February 15, the Senate voted 50 to 46 to confirm Robert M. Califf, MD, MACC, as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dr. Califf was previously the Commissioner of the FDA from February 2016 to January 2017. He also served as the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco from February 2015 until his appointment as Commissioner in February 2016.
Robert M. Califf, MD, MACC
Prior to joining the FDA, Dr. Califf was a Professor of Medicine and Vice Chancellor for Clinical and Translational Research at Duke University. He also served as Director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute and Founding Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. An expert in cardiovascular medicine, health outcomes research, health-care quality, and clinical research, Dr. Califf has led many landmark clinical trials and is one of the most frequently cited authors in biomedical science, with more than 1,200 publications in the peer-reviewed literature.
ASCO Statement
Commenting on Dr. Califf’s confirmation, Howard A. “Skip” Burris III, MD, FACP, FASCO, Board Chair of the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), issued the following statement:
“ASCO congratulates [Dr. Califf] on his confirmation by the United States Senate to serve as the next Commissioner of the FDA.
As a former FDA Commissioner, Dr. Califf has demonstrated a deep commitment to protecting public health and has experience leading large and complex organizations, which is critical as we continue to respond to an unprecedented global pandemic. With 4 decades of experience in clinical and translational medicine, Dr. Califf is extraordinarily well-suited to lead the FDA in assuring that treatments and medical devices are safe and effective for patients. We look forward to working with him to modernize and streamline clinical trials so they are accessible, affordable, and equitable.
An advocate for using real-world data and real-world evidence in clinical studies, Dr. Califf understands the importance of quality evidence to continue the agency’s development of a real-world evidence regulatory framework. We’re also encouraged that Dr. Califf is a longtime supporter of tobacco control, and we are hopeful that we can accelerate progress towards ending tobacco-related disease, including cancer.
We look forward to continuing our productive history of collaborating with Dr. Califf and the FDA in reducing cancer incidence, advancing treatment options, and improving the lives of people with cancer.”
