Just returning from San Diego and the 45th annual Drug Information Association (DIA) conference where I participated on a panel about how to improve FDA communications. It was only 90 minutes long and we didn't solve all of the world's problems -- but there was some forward motion.
The panel was chaired by the always alert Julie Zawisza, CDER's Director of Communications and I was joined on the dais by Ray Kerins (Pfizer) and Steve Usdin (BioCentury).
We coverered a lot of ground, but what really was on the mind of the audience was the FDA's stance (or lack of one) on issues related to social media. We talked about DDMAC letters and the risk communications advisory committee, blogging, Facebook, Twitter -- and yes, even Cheerios. And the general consensus was that the agency was behind the curve.
I know, duh. But that's when Julie Z. stepped up to the plate with the following comment, "The FDA has no intention to stiffle the use of social media." It might have sounded like a throw-away line -- but if that sentiment is genuine (and Ms. Z, is as genuine as they come), then there's hope for FDA to be both regulator of and partner in using social media to communicate important public health information. In fact, Julie said (twice) that she was going to talk with Janet Woodcock about holding a series of external meetings on the subject of "Web 2.0."
She also, aptly, pointed out that when it comes to understanding, regulating, and using social media channels, it's important to understand that "it's not just information, but context and perspective."
You go girl.
The panel was chaired by the always alert Julie Zawisza, CDER's Director of Communications and I was joined on the dais by Ray Kerins (Pfizer) and Steve Usdin (BioCentury).
We coverered a lot of ground, but what really was on the mind of the audience was the FDA's stance (or lack of one) on issues related to social media. We talked about DDMAC letters and the risk communications advisory committee, blogging, Facebook, Twitter -- and yes, even Cheerios. And the general consensus was that the agency was behind the curve.
I know, duh. But that's when Julie Z. stepped up to the plate with the following comment, "The FDA has no intention to stiffle the use of social media." It might have sounded like a throw-away line -- but if that sentiment is genuine (and Ms. Z, is as genuine as they come), then there's hope for FDA to be both regulator of and partner in using social media to communicate important public health information. In fact, Julie said (twice) that she was going to talk with Janet Woodcock about holding a series of external meetings on the subject of "Web 2.0."
She also, aptly, pointed out that when it comes to understanding, regulating, and using social media channels, it's important to understand that "it's not just information, but context and perspective."
You go girl.
