U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  1. Home
  2. About FDA
  3. FDA Organization
  4. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
  5. CDER Contact Information
  6. CDER Ombuds
  1. CDER Contact Information

CDER Ombuds

Mission

To quickly and impartially investigate complaints and resolve disputes between the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and CDER-regulated industry, health care practitioners, and consumers by offering an informal, confidential, and neutral environment.

Vision

To improve CDER’s operations and enhance transparency by providing efficient resolution of disputes and by fostering communication with stakeholders.

The CDER Ombuds receives questions and investigates complaints from CDER-regulated industry, law firms, health care providers, and consumers, and informally resolves disputes between those entities and CDER. These disputes can be of a regulatory, scientific, or administrative nature. The Ombuds serves as a one-stop-shop for quick and informal advice or referrals, whatever the question or problem might be. Also, the Ombuds receives feedback about CDER’s programs and overall performance, advises Center management about program issues, and can assist with resolution of scientific differences of opinion among CDER staff.

The Ombuds performs these duties while adhering to the ombuds principles of confidentiality, neutrality, and informality. Every effort is made to respond to all complaints in a timely and effective manner. Upon request, communication with the Ombuds will be considered confidential.

The role of the CDER Ombuds (Center level) is similar to the FDA Ombuds (Agency level), and both offices follow the same operating principles of confidentiality, informality, and neutrality. However, utilizing the CDER Ombuds provides a way for anyone with a complaint or dispute involving CDER entities or programs to work through their problem at a level closer to the source. The CDER Ombuds Office is in the Center Director's Office of Executive Programs.

Non-Retaliation Policy

The FDA Ombuds page discusses FDA's position on retaliation.

Outreach

The CDER Ombuds will consider requests for participation in outreach activities such as webinars, presentations, panel discussions, and so on. Please send your request to Virginia.Behr@fda.hhs.gov.

Ombuds Resources



Back to Top