Richard Pazdur, M.D.

Richard Pazdur is the Director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This office was formed in 2005 to consolidate the review of drugs and therapeutic biologics for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer as well as the review of drugs and therapeutic biologics for hematologic diseases and for medical imaging. Dr. Pazdur's position facilitates coordination of oncology activities across all FDA Centers and ensures an ongoing outreach and collaboration between FDA, the National Cancer Institute, and other cancer-related organizations within and outside of the Government.

Dr. Pazdur was the Director of the Division of Oncology Drug Products from 1999 to 2005. Prior to joining the FDA, Dr. Pazdur was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston from 1988 to 1999. During his tenure there, Dr. Pazdur held the administrative positions of Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Director of Clinical Trials Administration (Division of Medicine), and Director of Educational Programs (Division of Medicine). Dr. Pazdur's main research interests are in clinical trial design and drug development of anti-cancer agents in advanced colorectal cancer. He has performed numerous phase I, II, III, and adjuvant therapy trials.

Dr. Pazdur has published more than 300 articles, book chapters, and abstracts. Dr. Pazdur was on the faculty of Wayne State University in Detroit from 1982 to 1988. He received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, his doctorate of medicine from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, IL, and completed clinical training at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago and at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics.