Katherine Szarama has been appointed acting director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), succeeding Vinay Prasad. She joined the agency last year to serve as Prasad’s deputy.
The move places Szarama in charge of one of the FDA’s most critical centers, overseeing vaccines, blood products, and gene therapies. CBER has been under intense scrutiny amid ongoing vaccine policy debates and a pipeline of novel biologics.
No further details on her background or specific priorities have been released by the agency. The appointment is effective immediately, according to the announcement.
The transition comes at a time when the FDA faces mounting pressure to maintain regulatory rigor while accelerating approvals. Szarama's experience as deputy may provide continuity within the center.
The agency did not specify whether a permanent director search is underway.