FDA appoints permanent heads of drug and biologics centers in the US
In the United States, President Donald Trump’s administration has permanently filled four key leadership positions at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). STAT News reports.
Heads of FDA centers
Three officials who are currently serving in acting capacities will assume the respective positions permanently. Psychiatrist Michael Davis will become director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
Former Merck employee Karim Mikhail will lead the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Lawyer Brett Koplov, who has worked at the FDA since 2011, will become director of the Center for Tobacco Products.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Technology and AI position
The fourth appointee is Jared Sigafar. He will become the first deputy commissioner for technology and artificial intelligence in FDA history.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Sigafar joined the FDA as an adviser in 2025 after founding a software development company for the life sciences sector and working in biotechnology investment consulting. Under the Trump administration, the FDA has promoted the use of artificial intelligence by staff to speed up review processes. The appointments came after the administration nominated Heidi Overton to lead the FDA in late August.
