Following the departure of FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, M.D., longtime agency leader Janet Woodcock, M.D. will serve as the interim commissioner. Woodcock is currently the CDER director and has been with FDA for nearly 35 years. Last year she stepped away from her regular duties at CDER to focus on Operation Warp Speed as the head of the therapeutics aspect of the effort. Woodcock has testified before Congress more than 50 times during her time at the agency.

Today on Twitter Woodcock stated:

“It is an honor and privilege to serve as Acting @US_FDA Commissioner. The FDA’s public health work is more critical than ever as we continue to fight this global pandemic.

The American people can be certain that science – above all – will continue to guide the FDA’s regulatory actions now and into the future.”

There is no word yet on whom President Biden will nominate as FDA commissioner.