NCI Director Nominated as New FDA Commissioner

President Bush has nominated NCI director Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD, as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. von Eschenbach has served as acting FDA commissioner since the resignation of Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PHD, in September 2005. If confirmed by the Senate, Dr. von Eschenbach will become the third FDA commissioner under President Bush.

Dr. von Eschenbach joined NCI in January 2002 after a distinguished career as a urologic surgeon and cancer advocate at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Since his appointment as acting FDA commissioner, the day-to-day management of NCI has been overseen by chief operating officer John Niederhuber, MD, an arrangement that will continue until Dr. von Eschenbach is confirmed as FDA commissioner.