Latest news with #ThePlenarySession
Axios
06-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
RFK Jr. picks controversial doctor as top vaccine regulator
Vinay Prasad, a hematologist-oncologist known for at times scathing social media critiques of public health policy, will be the FDA's new top vaccine regulator, according to an email viewed by Axios. Why it matters: The University of California San Francisco physician will succeed Peter Marks, who abruptly resigned as director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in March, citing disagreements with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Driving the news: Prasad is an outspoken skeptic about COVID-19 vaccine mandates for kids, though he's called the vaccine itself a "a miraculous, life-saving advance." FDA Commissioner Marty Makary wrote in an email to FDA staff that Prasad had published more than 500 academic articles, done extensive research in the field of oncology and presented at hundreds of scientific and medical conferences. "He brings a great set of skills, energy, and competence to the FDA and I know that he is eager to begin immersing himself in the important work of CBER and the agency as a whole." Zoom in: Prasad has made a name for himself on social media platforms including X, his Substack called Sensible Medicine, and the podcast The Plenary Session, where he discusses medicine, policy, ethics and the pharmaceutical industry. He's courted controversy challenging industry influence in health policy and what he calls poor reasoning in clinical research. He's also been a sharp critic of Marks, calling him "anti-data." Prasad also endorsed clawing back federal funding the Biden administration awarded to Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine. He is the author of the books "Malignant: How Bad Policy and Bad Evidence Harm People with Cancer" and "Ending Medical Reversal: Improving Outcomes, Saving Lives." Scott Steele, who served as acting CBER director following Marks' departure, will return to his position as senior advisor for translational science.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Indian-origin Vinay Prasad becomes US' top vaccine official. Who is he? Why is he controversial?
Dr Vinay Prasad will be FDA's top vaccine regulator. — DrMakaryFDA (@DrMakaryFDA) Prasad's criticism of US health policies Who is Vinay Prasad? His early life Controversial oncoologist-haematologist Vinay Prasad will be the FDA's top vaccine regulator. Apart from his extensive research and contribution in the field of oncology, he is known for his scathing remarks against the FDA and US health Commissioner Martin Makary announced Prasad's appointment as the new director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees review of vaccines, blood products and some genetic medicines.'Dr Prasad brings the kind of scientific rigor, independence, and transparency we need at CBER—a significant step forward,' Makary wrote in a post on the social media site recent years, Prasad has become a regular on podcasts associated with Health Secretary Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again' the pandemic, Dr Prasad found fault with social distancing and expressed doubt over vaccine for children. He also criticized Donald Trump during the pandemic for taking disproven medicines to prevent the spread of the virus and for refusing to use facemasks at the White freely expresses his opinion in X, his Substack called Sensible Medicine and the podcast The Plenary Session. He is the author of the books "Malignant: How Bad Policy and Bad Evidence Harm People with Cancer" and "Ending Medical Reversal: Improving Outcomes, Saving Lives."Born in the US to immigrant parents, Dr Prasad's early life was in Ohio and Chicago. He went to Michigan State University, where he took courses in health care ethics and physiology. He completed his medical degree at the University of Chicago in 2009 and completed a residency in internal medicine at Northwestern University in 2012. From 2015 to 2020, Prasad was assistant and then associate professor at the Oregon Health & Science University. He currently works at San Francisco General Hospital. Prasad is currently a full professor of hematology-oncology at UCSF.
