Deputy Director Named for FDA’s Division of Oncology Drug Products

Grant Williams, MD, recently assumed the position ofdeputy director of the Division of Oncology Drug Products, Center for DrugEvaluation and Research (CDER), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr.Williams joined the FDA in 1989 as a medical officer and was named oncologymedical team leader in 1996. Prior to joining the FDA, Dr. Williams completed aninternship and residency in internal medicine and a fellowship inhematology/oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He earned hismedical degree from the University of Alabama in 1982.

Exemplary Leadership

During his tenure at the FDA, Dr. Williams has served as the primary reviewerfor more than 15 new drug applications (NDAs)/efficacy supplements and asmedical team leader for more than 20 NDAs, including the imatinib mesylate (Gleevec)NDA that was completed in 2½ months. He organized a 17-course lecture seriesfor new oncology reviewers and has chaired the CDER’s Oncology CoordinatingCommittee since its inception in 2001.

Dr. Williams’ numerous other FDA-related activities have included writingthe Center for Biologics, Evaluation, and Research (CBER)-CDER OncologyGuidances, organizing oncology advisory committee meetings, and speaking to bothprofessional and patient advocacy groups.