FDA is looking for new consumer representatives to join a number of its advisory committees, including several that deal with medical devices. The agency is also accepting nominations for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health’s Patient Engagement Advisory Committee.

A consumer representative serves as a liaison between an advisory committee and interested consumers, associations, coalitions, and consumer organizations, as well as participates in committee discussions about the scientific issues that affect consumers.

“We are looking for applicants with knowledge and expertise in all medical fields as well as an affiliation with a consumer organization or an association with consumer interests,” the FDA said in an email announcement.

Positions are available with the following groups:

  • Allergenic Products Advisory Committee
  • Anesthesiology and Respiratory Therapy Devices Panel
  • Blood Products Advisory Committee
  • Ear, Nose and Throat Devices Panel
  • Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel
  • Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee
  • Immunology Devices Panel
  • Medical Imaging Advisory Committee
  • National Mammography Advisory Committee
  • Peripheral and Central Nervous System Advisory Committee
  • Science Advisory Board National Center for Toxicological Research
  • Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee

The agency is accepting nominations, as well as applications from interested individuals, until Jan. 31. For more information or to submit an application, visit the FDA’s consumer representative Web site.

In a separate announcement, the FDA called for nominees to join CDRH’s Patient Engagement Advisory Committee. Members of this group will help integrate the perspective of patients into the regulatory process for medical devices by discussing the benefits, risks, and clinical outcomes of healthcare technology.

According to the FDA, candidates should be “knowledgeable in areas such as clinical research, primary care patient experience, [or] healthcare needs of patient groups in the United States, or…experienced in the work of patient and health professional organizations, methodologies for eliciting patient preferences, and strategies for communicating benefits, risks, and clinical outcomes to patients and research participants.”

Nominations, including self-nominations, can be submitted using the FDA Advisory Committee Membership Nomination Portal. Nominations received by November 21 will be given first consideration.