Janet Woodcock, MD, is Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In 2015, Woodcock also assumed the role of Acting Director of CDER’s newly formed Office of Pharmaceutical Quality (OPQ). Woodcock first joined CDER in 1994. For three years, from 2005 until 2008, she served FDA’s Commissioner, holding several positions, including as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, and Chief Operating Officer. Her responsibilities involved oversight of various aspects of scientific and medical regulatory operations.

Before joining CDER, Woodcock served as Director, Office of Therapeutics Research and Review, and Acting Deputy Director in FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

Woodcock received her MD from Northwestern Medical School and completed further training and held teaching appointments at Pennsylvania State University and the University of California in San Francisco. She joined FDA in 1986.

Woodcock was appointed as a member of the PCORI Board of Governors by the Comptroller General of the United States in September 2018.