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        CDER Contact Information

CDER Ombuds

                        
                When and How to Contact the CDER Ombuds
          Dispute Resolution
          FAQs and Common Complaints
          CDER Ombuds Annual Reports Home
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          FDA Organization
          Center for Drug Evaluation and Research | CDER
          CDER Contact Information
          CDER OmbudsCDER Contact Information CDER Ombuds
  	
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    Print**Mission**

To quickly and impartially investigate complaints and resolve disputes between the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and CDER-regulated industry, health care practitioners, and consumers by offering an informal, confidential, and neutral environment.

**Vision**

To improve CDER’s operations and enhance transparency by providing efficient resolution of disputes and by fostering communication with stakeholders.

The CDER Ombuds receives questions and investigates complaints from CDER-regulated industry, law firms, health care providers, and consumers, and informally resolves disputes between those entities and CDER. These disputes can be of a regulatory, scientific, or administrative nature. The Ombuds serves as a one-stop-shop for quick and informal advice or referrals, whatever the question or problem might be. Also, the Ombuds receives feedback about CDER’s programs and overall performance, advises Center management about program issues, and can assist with resolution of scientific differences of opinion among CDER staff.

The Ombuds performs these duties while adhering to the ombuds principles of confidentiality, neutrality, and informality. Every effort is made to respond to all complaints in a timely and effective manner. Upon request, communication with the Ombuds will be considered confidential.

The role of the CDER Ombuds (Center level) is similar to the FDA Ombuds (Agency level), and both offices follow the same operating principles of confidentiality, informality, and neutrality. However, utilizing the CDER Ombuds provides a way for anyone with a complaint or dispute involving CDER entities or programs to work through their problem at a level closer to the source. The CDER Ombuds Office is in the Center Director's Office of Executive Programs.

CDER Ombuds brochure (PDF - 1 MB)
	CDER/CBER Formal Dispute Resolution: Appeals Above the Division Level (PDF - 214 KB)Non-Retaliation Policy

The FDA Ombuds page discusses FDA's position on retaliation.

Outreach

The CDER Ombuds will consider requests for participation in outreach activities such as webinars, presentations, panel discussions, and so on. Please send your request to Virginia.Behr@fda.hhs.gov.

Ombuds Resources

CDER Ombuds brochure
	Coalition of Federal Ombuds (COFO)
	United States Ombudsman Association
	International Ombuds Association
	FDA Agency Ombuds
	FDA Center Ombuds
	American Bar Association - Dispute Resolution Section
	The Ombuds Blog
	Interagency Alternative Dispute Resolution Working Group
	A Guide for Federal Employee Ombuds: A Supplement to and Annotation of the Standards for the Establishment and Operations of Ombuds Offices Issued by the American Bar Association

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      01/30/2024
                  
                   
Regulated Product(s)
		 DrugsCDER Ombuds                
                          

                        When and How to Contact the CDER Ombuds
          Dispute Resolution
          FAQs and Common Complaints
          CDER Ombuds Annual Reports
 
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