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About the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

About the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

FDA Laboratory Building 62 at the FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, MD.

The Research Participation Programs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are managed by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) under an interagency agreement between FDA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 

FDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for:

  • Protecting the public health by assuring that foods are safe, wholesome, sanitary and properly labeled; human and veterinary drugs, and vaccines and other biological products and medical devices intended for human use are safe and effective. 
  • Protecting the public from electronic product radiation.
  • Assuring cosmetics and dietary supplements are safe and properly labeled.
  • Regulating tobacco products.
  • Advancing the public health by helping to speed product innovations.
  • Helping the public get the accurate science-based information they need to use medicines, devices, and foods to improve their health.