NEWS
10/29/1993

<TITLE>FDA Announces Appointment of Dr. Bernard A. Schwetz as director of FDA NCTR</TITLE>
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P93-39                             Food and Drug Administration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              Betsy Adams - (301) 443-4177

     Commissioner of Food and Drugs David A. Kessler, M.D., today
announced the appointment of Dr. Bernard A. Schwetz as director of
the Food and Drug Administration's National Center for
Toxicological Research.
     The center, located in Jefferson, Ark., conducts research in
support of a broad range of FDA activities.  Its work involves
toxicity mechanisms, transgenics, risk assessment and other
research areas, in addition to analysis, microbiology,
developmental toxicology, neurotoxicology and information
management methods development.    
     "I'm very pleased to have a scientist of Dr. Schwetz's caliber
to direct the work of this important research center,"  Kessler
said.  "His leadership will strengthen the center's role in
providing a science base for FDA decisions."
     Schwetz is a certified toxicologist who, since earlier this
year, has been acting director of the Environmental Toxicology
Program of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C. 
He is also associate director of the National Toxicology Program
there.
     He had been chief of the Institute's Systems Toxicity Branch 
since 1982.  From 1970 to 1982, he directed Dow Chemical Corp.'s
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Toxicology Research Laboratory.  
     Schwetz's research focus has been in developmental and       
reproductive toxicology, particularly the toxicity to newborns of
chemicals in milk.
     FDA Deputy Commissioner for Operations Jane E. Henney, M.D.,
said, "Through his role in the National Toxicology Program, his
credentials in management and his broad educational background, Dr.
Schwetz brings many strengths to his new post."  
     Schwetz has been adjunct professor of pharmacology and
toxicology at Michigan State and North Carolina State universities. 
He is editor of the journal Fundamental and Applied Toxicology and
serves on the editorial advisory board of Environmental Health
Perspectives and Critical Reviews in Toxicology.  
     He is past president of the Reproductive Toxicology Specialty
Section of the Society of Toxicology and of the North Carolina
Chapter of the Society of Toxicology.  His memberships also include
the American Veterinary Medical Association, veterinary honor
society Phi Zeta, Teratology Society and Behavioral Teratology
Society.  
     Schwetz earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the
University of Wisconsin, a doctor of veterinary medicine from the
University of Minnesota and a master's degree and Ph.D. in
pharmacology from the University of Iowa.  
     He will assume his new position on Nov. 1.  FDA and NIH are
agencies of the Public Health Service in HHS.
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