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In this episode of Beyond the Endpoint, hosts Emily O'Brien and Manesh Patel explore the complex world of FDA regulation and healthcare policy with Leslie Curtis, a former senior FDA policy advisor. Curtis provides an insider's perspective on the agency that oversees 20% of U.S. consumer products, explaining how the FDA balances scientific evidence, public health needs, and legal constraints when making regulatory decisions. The conversation examines how the agency prioritizes its vast responsibilities and navigates political transitions. Curtis also offers practical guidance for the public on evaluating health claims and understanding the difference between correlation and causation while discussing the broader implications of political shifts on healthcare research and funding.
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About Our Guest
Lesley Curtis, PhD, is a Professor of Population Health Sciences and Medicine at Duke School of Medicine and the inaugural chair of Population Health Sciences. Curtis is a health services researcher specializing in using Medicare claims data for clinical outcomes research and leads national data quality initiatives. Her work includes linking Medicare claims with major clinical registries and epidemiological studies like the Framingham Heart Study. Curtis recently served as a senior policy advisor at the FDA, supporting evidence-generation efforts. She co-leads the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory, which develops large-scale research studies within healthcare delivery systems.