Senior Science Advisor to Leave FDA

Commissioner of Food and Drugs Jane Henney, M.D., has announced that Elkan Blout, Ph.D., senior advisor for science, is leaving the agency.

"Dr. Blout has been the spirit and chief advocate of scientific excellence in our agency," Commissioner Henney said. "More than anyone else, he has laid sound foundations for the strengthening of FDA's scientific potential that is essential for the continued fulfillment of our public health mission. We'll miss his congenial personality, but his innovative ideas and guidance will remain always a significant part of this agency."

Blout, a recipient of the National Medal of Science, joined FDA in 1991, following a career in commerce and academia as one of the nation's outstanding experts in biological sciences.

At FDA, he made important contributions in the selection of research priorities, provided liaison with outside scientists, and promoted cooperation among the agency scientists. His main accomplishments include the formation of three bodies focused on agency-wide science issues and improvement of FDA's science base.

One of them, the Science Board, includes 12 prominent scientists from industry and academia who meet several times a year with agency representatives to discuss science policy issues. The other two groups, the Senior Science Council and the Committee for the Advancement of Science, are FDA internal forums for monthly discussions of agency science policy and administrative matters.

Blout will resign from FDA September 10. He plans to continue his activities as consultant and board member of various profit and non-profit organizations.

Edited by Scott Hegenbart