STAT+: FDA names acting heads of drug and vaccine centers to permanent roles
The moves bring stability to an agency that's been rocked by the exits of top leadership.
The Trump administration has permanently appointed four new leaders at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following the nomination of Heidi Overton to serve as the agency's director. Three of the officials are taking their roles in an acting capacity, which will officially become permanent. Michael Davis, a psychiatrist, will lead the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
Karim Mikhail, formerly of Merck, will head the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Bret Koplow, an attorney with FDA experience since 2011, will direct the Center for Tobacco Products. Additionally, Jared Seehafer has been appointed as the FDA's first deputy commissioner for technology and artificial intelligence. Seehafer joined the agency as an adviser in 2025 after founding a life science software company and working in investment advising for biotech. The FDA has been utilizing AI to streamline its review processes under the Trump administration.
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