Introduction: Through a number of referenda, the Advisory Committee selection process within the FDA, has been specifically addressed in order to accelerate assignment and initiate the evaluative processes for the respective committees. In many instances, the conflict of interest statement or insinuation of bias was prohibitive to a committee assignment, thus causing unnecessary delays or excluding a sound candidate from participation. The objective of this study was to extract both internal and external observations on making this selection process more fastidiously, subsequently adding efficiencies to known delays and evaluations at the Advisory Committee Level

Methods: A number of internal and external inquiries through questionnaire and dialog were accrued from industry, academia and private sector individuals who had direct contact or involvement with Advisory Committee processes. These opinions (> 25 individuals) were then collated for patterned observations in order to construct a list of redeemable recommendations for submission to the directorship of the FDA.A bibliographical search of media and literature assisted in eliminating duplicity and focus of our recommendations.

Results: The commonality of observed delays by both internal and external participants involved the cumbersome process of selection and exclusion criteria. Addressing the current policy on conflict of interest will make a significant difference in process efficiency, but also allow for more expert placement.

Conclusions: Expert selection should be based on multiple criteria, and not solely excluded on conflict of interest. Disclosure and bias statements are helpful in expert selection and may allow for more experts, faster selection and more alacrity added to the already bottlenecked process.

Patient Care: More rapid selection of Advisory Committee Members, following changes to processes surrounding conflict of interest

Learning Objectives: Collating both internal (FDA employees) and external sources and stakeholders in constructing usable recommendations

References: https://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/default.htm