Committee, Von Eschenbach Discuss Effect of Funding Shortfalls on FDA

Without a significant and sustained increase in funding, the FDA cannot fulfill its mission to protect the public health, a subcommittee of the FDA’s Science Board says in a report detailing the agency’s shortcomings.

A lack of resources, weak scientific base and obsolete IT system are hindering the FDA, the Subcommittee on Science and Technology says in the report discussed at a Science Board meeting Dec. 3. Most of the problems are due to a dearth in funding, according to the report.

The Science Board agreed by voice vote to accept the subcommittee’s report and take steps to provide further review of high priority scientific programs and the scientific capacity and processes of the agency’s Office of Regulatory Affairs.