Media accounts note FDA Commissioner-in-Waiting Peggy Hamburg's stint as NYC Public Health commissioner.
But to me her best credential was her long scientific association with Dr. Joshua Lederberg.
Dr. Lederberg cared about the FDA, the Critical Path, the swamping of 21st century science by junk science, fear mongering, the dumbing down of drug companies and reimbursement systems that discouraged innovation.
Great minds don't think alike. They are independent. But they also can withstand the political bluster in support of science and medical progress.
Josh Lederberg did this and more.
Let's hope Peggy Hamburg, whose scientific and public health credentials are excellent, does the same. Let's hope she supports the Janet Woodcocks, Bob Temples, Larry Lesko's and others who want to lead the FDA into a future of personalized and prospective medicine and food safety and not the fearmongers from in and outside the agency that want to bring it down because the hate the commercialization of medical knowledge.
But to me her best credential was her long scientific association with Dr. Joshua Lederberg.
Dr. Lederberg cared about the FDA, the Critical Path, the swamping of 21st century science by junk science, fear mongering, the dumbing down of drug companies and reimbursement systems that discouraged innovation.
Great minds don't think alike. They are independent. But they also can withstand the political bluster in support of science and medical progress.
Josh Lederberg did this and more.
Let's hope Peggy Hamburg, whose scientific and public health credentials are excellent, does the same. Let's hope she supports the Janet Woodcocks, Bob Temples, Larry Lesko's and others who want to lead the FDA into a future of personalized and prospective medicine and food safety and not the fearmongers from in and outside the agency that want to bring it down because the hate the commercialization of medical knowledge.
