FDA Website
The FDA website ( www.fda.gov) is very complete with a search box and an A to Z subject index. FDA news and events are on the home page also. The FDA is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services that has its own website. There is a “site map” that is a list of different categories and topics that you may want to investigate. The subject index lets you choose a letter, for example, “F”.
Under the letter “F” are 44 topics to choose from.
The main menu on the page contains the following categories:
- Food
- Drugs
- Medical devices
- Vaccines, Blood and Biologics
- Animal and veterinary
- Cosmetics
- Radiation-emitting Products
- Tobacco products
Each of these categories has a sub-menu of:
- Key topics
- Consumer resources
- Industry resources
There are lists to choose from in each of these windows.
There are a series of boxes on the FDA website home page that contain a variety of information. The FDA news and events is by date with statements about regulatory reports and awards and schedules. There is a “Pubic Health Focus” with information on recalls and recent drug questions.
The left hand box contains the most vital information about:
o Clinical trials
o Rare diseases
o Pediatrics
o Toxicology research
o How to comment on proposals
o Code of Federal Regulations
o Dockets Management
o Laws FDA enforces
o FDA organization
o FDA basics
o Advisory committees
o International programs
o Emergency preparedness and response
o Working at the FDA
o Training/Continuing education
o Reports, manuals and forms
o Publicaciones en Espanol
On the right side of the home page are a series of smaller boxes that include:
o E-mail
o RSS feeds
o Ask questions
o Get answers
o FDA strategic priorities 2011 – 2015
o HHS budget
§ FDA budget
o Transparency task force
o Expanded access to investigations drugs
o Strategic plan for risk communication
o Drugs, Medical devices
o Emergency
o Non-emergency
o Suspected criminal activity
o For industry: reportable food registry
- Recalls and Alerts
- Approvals and Clearances
- Interactive Media
o Drug safety podcasts
o FDA patient safety news
The middle section contains a box “Public Health Focus.” Below that box is the “News & Events” box.
Near the bottom of the middle section of the home page is a box “FDA For You”. It is divided into:
o Updates
o Kids
o Patients
o Women’s health
o Inspections and enforcements
o Import program
o Guidances
o Food facility registration
o Drugs
o Medical devices
o Biologics
o Radiological health
- State and local officials
The webpage entitled “About the FDA” contains more information and FDA news. Among the subjects are:
- Ways to contact the FDA
- Working at the FDA
o Job vacancies
o Fellowships
o Internships
- FDA acronyms and abbreviations
- Center and offices for eight divisions
- Partnerships and collaborations
- Reports, manuals and forms
- Transparency
The FDA website is vast and thorough. Anything you can think of is included there. Most of the files are in PDF format and easily accessible. The information is current and updated monthly. [dlt1] It seems very transparent to me.
Written by: Margaret Stenerson
10 6 2010
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