ARTICLE | Politics, Policy & Law

Califf’s passions provide clues to priorities as commissioner

Since leaving FDA in 2017, Rob Califf has written prolifically on topics he would face if nominated and confirmed as FDA commissioner

By Steve Usdin, Washington Editor

November 11, 2021 9:37 PM UTC

Updated on Nov 12, 2021 at 8:20 PM UTC

Editor's note: Following publication of this article, President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Robert Califf as FDA commissioner. Biden’s statement emphasized Califf’s experience in leading clinical trials, as well as his contributions to the medical literature, noting that he is “one of the most frequently cited authors in biomedical science, with more than 1,200 publications in the peer-reviewed literature.”

Robert Califf has had almost five years to reflect on his experience as FDA commissioner, to think about what he could have done differently and especially what steps his successors should take. As a prolific and highly cited author, he has done much of this reflection in public.

If President Joe Biden follows through on his plan to nominate Califf as FDA commissioner and the Senate votes to confirm, Califf will have the opportunity to act on the ideas and proposals that pepper over 100 commentaries and peer-reviewed papers he has authored or co-authored since leaving FDA. ...

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