If confirmed, Stephen Hahn, chief medical executive at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, will take the helm.

The Food and Drug Administration is currently being run by Admiral Brett Giroir, Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Acting head Ned Sharpless was replaced, because his allotted time for serving as the Acting Commissioner expired.

Sharpless was in the running for the permanent position, but with President Trump’s decision (https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/md-anderson-s-hahn-picked-as-next-fda-commissioner?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT1dVeE5qZGxOR1l3Wm1FeCIsInQiOiJiXC9VRWVVcGZwN28xR01vZkVBbzVRXC92NDdPTllKd0UrVUR2Z0JRZlBId1I2YVA1ZkRUSnhReDcyVUFqeXdQNTBveU5ZdHNBNndmUUdwUEJGaVFJQ00zbERPYnoxNnBQN25tXC9EYnVhYlNicDBoTFFNdkVTWjlzeVZJNzZzMW1UKyJ9&mrkid=14621160) to nominate Stephen Hahn of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, he has returned to his former position at the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Hahn is presently the chief medical executive at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center — he previously worked as an investigator at NCI. Hahn must be confirmed by the Senate before he can take up the position of FDA Commissioner. Unlike previous commissioners who had experience at the FDA, Hahn has spent most of his career at academic medical centers.

Former commissioners and more than 50 groups involved in cancer and other areas affected by the agency put their support behind Sharpless, but to no avail.