The FDA’s September 30 recruitment announcement includes an ENT-specific consumer role in a companion notice published October 1. The notice lists one nonvoting consumer position on the Ear, Nose and Throat Devices Panel, with otologists, neurotologists and audiologists named in its expertise row.
The consumer criteria extend beyond those specialties. The notice says nominees should demonstrate involvement with consumer or community organizations, assess technical information and understand research design. It also describes representing consumer perspectives and connecting the committee with interested consumer groups.
The published timing instructions differ. The September 30 release gives November 15, 2026 for consumer nominations to receive first consideration. The notice’s DATES section gives November 16 for nominations and consumer organizations’ selection-interest statements. Its Section III separately asks organizations to express that interest within 30 days of publication. ENT Daily Dispatch has not verified which timing instruction controls; this brief reports the discrepancy and does not provide an application deadline.
The FDA release treats scientific, technical and other voting-member nominations as a separate route, with November 30 for first consideration. It says later nominations can be considered as subsequent vacancies arise. That agency-wide route is distinct from the nonvoting consumer position listed for the ENT panel.
The ENT position is easy to miss in an agency-wide recruitment announcement. The consumer criteria and inconsistent timing language are relevant to readers evaluating the notice.
Go to the source.
FDA · September 30 advisory-committee recruitment announcement ↗GovInfo · October 1 FDA consumer-representative notice, FR Doc. 2026-20065 ↗This brief summarizes publicly announced information. It does not establish clinical superiority or recommend a treatment.
