focus -WSS

focus

author：comprehensive 2025-09-28 20:33:20 - browse：143

Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research within the Food and Drug Administration, at a hearing — policy coverage from STAT — Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Greg Nash/Pool via AP

WASHINGTON — A top Food and Drug Administration official wants Congress to dedicate full-time staff to emerging pathogens, after the FDA scrambled to find people for Covid-19 priorities like Operation Warp Speed.

“Vaccines were a pretty heavy duty lift during the pandemic,” said Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, at a Thursday Politico event. “Rather than having to essentially reassign whole groups of people and disrupt things, the idea is to have a group of people who are constantly working on this.”

There is reason for optimism. Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) successfully added an amendment creating that team to a key pandemic preparedness bill that must be reauthorized by the end of September. It would establish this new program within Marks’ division of the FDA, staffed with experts on vaccines, antibodies, diagnostic tests, personal protective equipment, and other medical countermeasures. Among other activities, this team would enhance surveillance programs and prioritize vaccine research and development so that existing platforms can be retooled to fight other viruses.

Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT+ and enjoy your first 30 days free!

GET STARTED Log In

Previous article： BioMarin wins approval for gene therapy to treat hemophilia A
Next article： STAT Virtual Event: JPM Recap, Live!

hotspot

knowledge

WSS

Medicare Advantage overpayments discussion gets experts fired up

Welsh Carson private equity firm escapes from FTC antitrust case

In shift, Texas to cover initial consult for Afghan baby's gene therapy

Life science postdocs should get big pay hike, NIH panel says

Crowdfunding for medical bills sidesteps core problem, author says

Lawmakers grill UnitedHealth CEO on Change cyberattack

explore

focus

entertainment

Anesthesiologist group: stop taking Ozempic before surgery

Allen Institute goes after foundational questions, CEO Costa says

Guidelines to prevent youth baseball injuries need more muscle

Sepsis can kill a child within hours. Here's how hospitals are fighting back

Alkermes shareholders re

Lawmakers grill UnitedHealth CEO on Change cyberattack

How to save PrEP access — and even expand it

Stories you might have missed in 2023: health, science, medicine

Heart attack and stroke risk calculators need revising

Hospital chaplains balance Covid safety with patients’ spiritual needs

leisure time

Allen Institute goes after foundational questions, CEO Costa says

Brain MRIs reveal impact of 'toxic stress' on Black children

Empower primary care with adequate payments and technology

Sepsis can kill a child within hours. Here's how hospitals are fighting back

Mayo Clinic partners with supercomputer AI firm Cerebras at JPM

STAT Virtual Event: JPM Recap, Live!

hotspot

knowledge

knowledge

Wikipedia