Top Device Science Official Leaves FDA

CDRH is losing its top science official — chief scientist and deputy Center director Doug Kelly. In a recent Linkedin post announcing his abrupt departure, Kelly said he is departing FDA to write a “new chapter.” He bravely joined FDA in 2020 after taking a break from his 30-year career in the start-up venture capital world to help battle the Covid-19 pandemic.

While at CDRH, Kelly was instrumental in establishing its Total Product Lifecycle Advisory Program (TAP), which encourages early, frequent, and strategic communications between breakthrough device developers. He also played a lead role in the latest iteration of the Medical Device User Fee Act program, according to his Linkedin post. The post also acknowledged a host of FDA and industry talent he worked with during his short tenure at CDRH.

Kelly received an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and cell biology from the University of California, San Diego, a medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and a MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.