WASHINGTON — A slow-boiling feud between Vinay Prasad and his staff at the Food and Drug Administration is threatening the future of the center that regulates the nation’s vaccines, biological products, and blood supply.
Dozens of scientists are considering leaving the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, where Prasad serves as director, to escape a work environment that eight agency officials described to STAT as rife with mistrust and paranoia. These officials said staffers are terrified of pushing back on Prasad, lest they face retaliation.
The fear has been fueled by Prasad pushing at least seven senior leaders out of their positions, employees told STAT, and offering no public explanations to staff or the leaders’ supervisors. Some of his workers are fed up, and are attempting to transfer to the FDA’s drug center. Prasad has tried to block these transfers in apparent recognition that CBER can’t afford to lose many more employees. The center has lost hundreds of employees since the start of this year to retirements, layoffs, and resignations, and hiring conditions are difficult.
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