In the spirit of the season, some thoughts on how 2008 can be the year when we all decide to "just get along" and focus on the public health and personalized medicine rather than, well, more personalized agendas.
As far as a "more effective" FDA is concerned, consider this -- effective regulation can’t happen in a vacuum. Unlike in the movies, the best new ideas, be they scientific or otherwise, rarely spring fully-grown from the head of anyone -- even our elected representatives. That means industry and Congress and academia and patient groups and physicians ... and the FDA must have close ties. Ties that bind rather then cut, with relationships built on trust and mutual respect. That's the only way to achieve anything worthwhile. "The beatings will continue until morale improves" isn't working. And while there will always be tension between regulator and regulated, between agency and oversight authority, such tension can be productive, creative tension.
Diamonds, after all, are the result of pressure.
As far as a "more effective" FDA is concerned, consider this -- effective regulation can’t happen in a vacuum. Unlike in the movies, the best new ideas, be they scientific or otherwise, rarely spring fully-grown from the head of anyone -- even our elected representatives. That means industry and Congress and academia and patient groups and physicians ... and the FDA must have close ties. Ties that bind rather then cut, with relationships built on trust and mutual respect. That's the only way to achieve anything worthwhile. "The beatings will continue until morale improves" isn't working. And while there will always be tension between regulator and regulated, between agency and oversight authority, such tension can be productive, creative tension.
Diamonds, after all, are the result of pressure.
