Opinion: Welcome back, Dr. Califf: Patients will see you now
The confirmation of Robert Califf to lead the Food and Drug Administration is among the most consequential recent leadership appointments in Washington. In a polarized Senate, Califf’s past relationships with industry and decisions made under his previous FDA watch were enough to create uncertainty and a close confirmation vote. A parliament of patients, however, would likely have given Califf a more sizable majority based on something in his background that was not openly discussed: He is a believer in elevating the roles of patients in research and the development of new medicines.
A paper trail extending at least as far back as 2014 makes clear that Califf not only shares the view that “patients should be involved in the prioritization, design, conduct, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of research” — his words in a 2014 paper in the North Carolina Medical Journal — but also recommends prompt action to realize that goal.
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