Peter Marks

Dr. Peter Marks is a biomedical scientist who formerly served as the Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the US Food and Drug Administration, a position he held from 2016 to 2025. The center is responsible for assuring the safety and effectiveness of biological products, including vaccines, allergenic products, blood and blood products, and cellular, tissue, and gene therapies. His role at the FDA also included a brief stint on the White House Coronavirus Task Force and involvement in the creation of Operation Warp Speed in 2020, both aimed at addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Marks' journey in the medical field began with his pursuit of a graduate degree in cell and molecular biology, followed by a medical degree from New York University. This was succeeded by his Internal Medicine residency and Hematology-Medical Oncology training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Dr. Marks has balanced his career between academia, where he has contributed to teaching and patient care, and the industry, where his focus has been drug development. In 2021, he further extended his reach into academia by serving as a plenary speaker at the State of the Science Research Summit.

Dr. Marks joined the FDA in 2012 as Deputy Center Director for CBER, before ascending to the role of Center Director in 2016. His tenure at the FDA was characterized by a comprehensive involvement in the response to various public health emergencies. This active participation in the healthcare sector has led to his authorship or co-authorship of over 100 publications, further solidifying his status as a knowledgeable figure in the field. In recognition of his contributions, in 2022, Dr. Marks was elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine.