The U.S. Senate voted 89 to 4 in support of the confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf, M.D., to be the next Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"Dr. Califf has demonstrated a long and deep commitment to advancing the public health throughout his distinguished career as a physician, researcher and leader in the fields of science and medicine," said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, acting commissioner of the FDA. "He understands well the critical role that the FDA plays in responding to the changes in our society while protecting and promoting the health of the public, across the many areas we regulate – and I am confident that our public health and scientific contributions will further grow under his exceptional leadership."
Califf was nominated by President Obama to run the agency last September. But, according to an article in The Washington Post, his nomination faced opposition from a handful of senators, over everything from the nation's prescription painkiller epidemic to genetically engineered salmon.
Read the full story in The Washington Post
