The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a broad, nationwide recruitment effort to expand the range of qualified voices and perspectives on its advisory committees. The FDA is publishing two Federal Register notices: one seeking qualified scientific, technical, and professional voting members across all committees with current or anticipated vacancies, and a companion notice seeking consumer representatives to ensure the public’s voice is at the table.
“FDA advisory committees bring together leading scientific minds to engage with the most difficult questions in public health. We are actively inviting people from across the country who are on the forefront of their fields—clinicians, researchers, and community voices—who can bring the latest science, real-world experience, and fresh perspectives to the FDA’s deliberations,” said Acting FDA Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Kyle Diamantas, JD.
“These panels provide independent expertise and rigorous scrutiny as the FDA navigates complex and rapidly evolving areas of science," he added.
Applications and Deadlines
The FDA is recruiting qualified candidates for vacancies spanning multiple scientific domains from oncology and cardiovascular medicine to neurology, genetics, and medical devices. Interested candidates are encouraged to begin the process through the centralized FDA Advisory Committee Membership Nomination application portal.
Nominees for scientific and technical voting member positions must demonstrate subject-matter expertise relevant to one or more FDA advisory committees, the ability to interpret complex scientific and technical information, an understanding of the public health significance of issues before the committee, and the capacity to provide objective, independent advice.
The FDA will consider nominations for current and anticipated near-term vacancies and will accept nominations on a continuing basis. Nominations for consumer representative positions should be submitted no later than November 15, 2026, and nominations for scientific, technical, professional, and other voting-member positions should be submitted no later than November 30, 2026.
Self-nominations are accepted. Members are invited to serve for terms of up to 4 years.
Advisory committees are a cornerstone of the FDA’s science-based, transparent regulatory process. These committees and panels bring together scientific experts and patient advocates and consumer representatives to evaluate the evidence on drugs, vaccines, biologics, medical devices, and other FDA-regulated products, thereby providing independent recommendations that help the FDA make well-informed decisions on behalf of the American public.
