The Evolving Door? What Having A ‘Big Data’ Commissioner Might Mean For US FDA

Robert Califf’s nomination to return as FDA commissioner will raise protests about a ‘revolving door’ pathway between industry and agency. But, in this case, it may be more apt to talk about how Califf’s time outside FDA led to evolving views on the role of big data in drug regulation.

US FDA entrance
FDA Building 1 actually uses dual sliding doors, which are good for climate control and emergency egress, but perhaps not as effective when it comes to metaphors. • Source: Alamy

The selection of Robert Califf as the new head of the US Food & Drug Administration (subject to Senate approval) begs for criticism about the so-called “revolving door” between government agencies and the industries they regulate.

President Biden’s nomination of Califf to return to FDA is getting its share of those complaints, led by Public Citizen,...

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