Julie G. Beitz, M.D. Principal Drug Regulatory Expert 202-800-6132
Julie G. Beitz, M.D.

Overview

Dr. Beitz has broad experience in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drug and biologic products and in regulatory decision-making.  She is a medical oncologist/hematologist and has served in leadership positions in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) for nearly three decades.

From early 2020 until her retirement from FDA in July 2023, Dr. Beitz was the Director of the Office of Immunology and Inflammation in CDER’s Office of New Drugs (OND), with oversight of review divisions responsible for therapeutics in dermatology, gastroenterology, hepatology, rheumatology, and pulmonology.  From 2006 to 2020, she was the director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III with supervision of review divisions responsible for gastroenterology, hepatology, inborn errors of metabolism, dermatology, bone disorders, gynecology, and urology.  In her 17-year tenure as an Office Director, Dr. Beitz was responsible for regulatory decisions involving countless therapeutic products. She supervised preparation for Advisory Committee meetings and served as the deciding authority on formal dispute resolution requests submitted by companies to the Office level.

Dr. Beitz joined the FDA in 1994 initially as a medical officer in OND’s Division of Oncology Drug Products and quickly assumed roles of increasing responsibility.  In 2000, she became Director of the Division of Drug Risk Evaluation in CDER’s Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology.  In this capacity she managed the evaluation of postmarket safety issues involving numerous drug and biologic products.

Dr. Beitz received her medical degree in 1981 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.  She completed a residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship training in Medical Oncology/Hematology at Brown University Affiliated Hospitals. From 1987 to 1994 she served as Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research) at Brown, conducting translational research in tumor angiogenesis in an effort to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention.  She also directed the Cancer Screening Program at Roger Williams Medical Center.

Education & Admissions

Education

Barnard College, Columbia University, B.A., 1981, Summa cum laude, Honors in Chemistry

College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, M.D., 1984, Honors in Infectious Diseases, Consultative Neurology

Residency in Internal Medicine, Brown University, Roger Williams Medical Center, 1981-1984

Fellowship in Medical Oncology/Hematology, Brown University Affiliated Hospitals, 1984-1987

Experience

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) therapeutics – As part of FDA’s Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program, triaged submissions, meeting requests, and questions from investigators and drug manufacturers developing COVID-19-related treatments; provided regulatory oversight of submissions of immunomodulators for the treatment of COVID-19
  • Office of New Drugs (OND) modernization efforts – advised OND leadership on broad policy initiatives in her capacity as Office Director and as Acting OND Deputy Director for Clinical Sciences
  • Implementation of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA) of 2007 – together with CDER regulatory policy staff worked to develop guidance for industry and review staff on FDA’s new authorities involving safety labeling changes, postmarketing study requirements, and risk evaluation and mitigation strategies
  • Postmarketing safety evaluation – spearheaded development of guidance for industry on good pharmacovigilance practices and pharmacoepidemiologic assessment
  • CDER Liaison to FDA’s Office of Women’s Health – responsible for the review and ranking of CDER intramural research proposals for funding by the Office of Women’s Health
  • CDER Regulatory Science Research – responsible for the review and ranking of OND intramural clinical research proposals for funding by CDER; mentored OND investigators engaged in regulatory research, resulting in scientific publications

 

Honors & Awards

  • Center Director’s Special Citation 1998, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2018
  • FDA Commendable Service Award 1996, 1999
  • FDA Outstanding Service Award 2002, 2003, 2008
  • CDER Leadership Excellence Award 2004
  • HHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service 2004
  • Commissioner’s Special Citation 2006
  • FDA Regulatory Science Excellence Award 2017, 2018
  • FDA Frances O. Kelsey Drug Safety Excellence Award 2019
  • FDA Leveraging and Collaboration Award 2019
Education

Barnard College, Columbia University, B.A., 1981, Summa cum laude, Honors in Chemistry

College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, M.D., 1984, Honors in Infectious Diseases, Consultative Neurology

Residency in Internal Medicine, Brown University, Roger Williams Medical Center, 1981-1984

Fellowship in Medical Oncology/Hematology, Brown University Affiliated Hospitals, 1984-1987

Practice Areas
Industries
FDA Regulatory Categories