Key Takeaways
- Celia Witten is no longer the deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
- Her departure is part of a broader trend of senior health officials leaving federal agencies under President Trump’s administration.
- Other notable departures include former CBER chief Patrizia Cavazzoni and NIH’s Principal Deputy Director Larry Tabak.
Witten’s Departure from the FDA
Celia Witten, M.D., Ph.D., has officially stepped down from her role as deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Witten confirmed her exit through an automatic email reply, indicating she has left the FDA. An updated organizational chart from February 21 no longer lists her as part of CBER’s leadership. Previously, she was verified as the deputy director as of October 24, 2024, according to a screenshot taken by the Internet Archive on February 5.
Witten’s departure adds to a significant trend of senior personnel changes within various health agencies since President Donald Trump began his second term in office. The current administration is overseeing widespread layoffs across the Department of Health and Human Services. This shift in leadership reflects ongoing changes impacting the FDA and other regulatory bodies.
In addition to Witten, several other prominent FDA leaders have recently departed. This list includes former CBER chief Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D.; Troy Tazbaz, who led the AI-focused Digital Health Center of Excellence; and Ross Segan, M.D., who was responsible for medical device safety. Outside the FDA, significant changes have also occurred at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with Deputy Director for Extramural Research Michael Lauer, M.D., leaving his position, and Principal Deputy Director Larry Tabak, Ph.D., retiring effective February 11.
As of now, the FDA has not provided any comment on these leadership changes following a request from Fierce Biotech. The ongoing shifts within the FDA and other health agencies are likely to impact their operations and potentially affect regulatory processes in the foreseeable future.
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