Monday starts the first official week with Ned Sharpless serving as the acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Sharpless took over in the role officially on Friday afternoon, according to the agency’s website.

Sharpless has most recently been serving as the director of the National Cancer Institute, an appointment he accepted in 2017 after three years leading the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Sharpless was a Morehead Scholar at UNC and earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics before attending medial school at UNC. He was also a professor at Harvard for two years before returning to be on the faculty in Chapel Hill in 2002.

The Trump Administration announced in mid-March that Sharpless would be taking over as acting head of the FDA as former administrator Scott Gottlieb resigned the role. Gottlieb’s resignation “stunned public health experts, lawmakers and consumer groups,” according to the New York Times. Gottlieb said he was resigning for personal reasons.

Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar said when announcing Sharpless’ appointment that Sharpless would be a “strong leader” as the agency focuses on everything from “combating the opioid crisis to modernizing food safety and addressing the rapid rise in youth use of e-cigarettes.”

A search for a permanent successor to Gottlieb is ongoing. It’s unknown whether Sharpless is a candidate to fill the role full-time. The choice to lead the FDA on a regular basis must be nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate.

Photo via UNC

Related Stories
‹
UNC Virologists Discover New Strategy to Treat HIV Infections
HIV has infected over 70 million people according to the World Health Organization, but virologists at UNC-Chapel Hill are now one step closer to stopping the spread of the insidious pathogen. The effective but temporary nature of current HIV treatments was the impetus for Dr. J. Victor Garcia and his team to consider how the […]
The Morning News: Mark Chilton Retiring, UNC Returning
In today's news: longtime Orange County Register of Deeds Mark Chilton announces he's stepping down, a few months before the end of his term.
Merritt's Grill Opening Second Location in Chapel Hill; Einstein Bros. Bagels Opening First
Merritt’s Grill, whose BLT sandwiches have been a staple of the Chapel Hill culinary scene since the restaurant opened in 1992, is opening a second location at Finley Golf Club. The restaurant will provide dine-in, to-go and catering services inside the newly refurbished Finley clubhouse and will be open to both players and non-players. An […]
The Morning News: Legion Road, ArtsOrange, Jason Johnson, Bill Belichick
In today's news: Chapel Hill provides an update on the future of its 36-acre property on Legion Road, with a pond slated for removal.
PlayMakers' Summer Youth Conservatory Celebrates 20 Years with Run of 'Hello, Dolly!'
This year marks 20 years of Chapel Hill’s Summer Youth Conservatory, offered through PlayMakers Repertory Company.
Carolina Performing Arts Unveils Multi-Day Performance Festival for 'Campus and Downtown'
The Carolina Performing Arts festival, called “All. Together. Now.”, is set to debut Feb. 18-21, 2027 and take place every year.
UNC Reports More Than $17 Million in Direct Economic Impact from Savannah Bananas Visit
According to a release from UNC, the recent visit from the Savannah Bananas to Chapel Hill generated an estimated $17.1 million.
A Place to Connect and Heal: UNC Holds Annual Community Walk for Suicide Prevention
On Saturday, community members and college students alike met on UNC’s campus for a mile-long walk to destigmatize suicide prevention.
'Together is The Only Path Forward': Orange County's Habitat for Humanity Hosts Affordable Housing Summit
Amid a shortage of affordable housing – both locally and nationally – the Orange County chapter of Habitat for Humanity recently held a summit to discuss how leaders can collectively aim to better address the issue.
Chapel Hill Alerts Residents To Upcoming S. Columbia Road Closure
The Town of Chapel Hill announced that a section of S. Columbia St. will be closed as UNC conducts maintenance on its steam tunnel system.
›