Boost your career and company success: networking with the USDA and FDA

If you’re a professional in the animal health field who wants to learn how to more effectively work with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, you're in luck. 

From Sep. 17-19 at the K-State Olathe campus, you’ll have the opportunity to network directly with representatives from both the USDA and FDA. Networking with these professionals and the other subject matter experts in attendance will provide you with guidance  on how to better understand regulatory oversight and navigate the product life cycle. 

How can I network at the animal health conference? 

This year’s animal health conference, Animal Health Regulatory Affairs: Working Successfully with USDA and FDA, features hands-on learning opportunities and the opportunity to connect with professionals who have been where you are, and want to provide guidance so you can effectively navigate the complexities related to product compliance with these agencies. 

During the conference, agency representatives along with industry experts will lead attendees through sessions and case study workshops. This three-day, in-person conference features sessions that are designed to provide the skills needed to communicate effectively with these agencies, including: 

• An overview of key agencies and what each one regulates 
• FDA and USDA inspections
• Pharmacovigilance
• EPA and FDA agreement
• Deviations and corrective action plans
• CRO selection and compliance
• Outlines of production for USDA
• Bioequivalence and biowaivers 

You’ll also have the opportunity to attend dinner with the subject matter expert of your choice. This will provide you with a chance to speak personally with a professional who can help answer your questions about USDA and FDA compliance. 

How do the USDA and FDA impact animal health regulatory affairs? 

The USDA and FDA regulate products and biologics designed for animal use, which makes navigating the regulatory space challenging for individuals who are new to the industry or whose previous work has centered on human drug development.

Whether you’re looking for opportunities to grow professionally in your current field or to adjust your career path to be on the regulatory affairs side of the animal health industry, working directly with subject matter experts can provide you with the details, the information and the resources you need to start moving forward. 

How can experts from the USDA and FDA help me? 

Hearing directly from the USDA and FDA speakers can help deepen your knowledge of animal health product approval, compliance and the many laws that govern the processes. If you’ve had a question about regulatory affairs that you haven’t been able to find a clear answer to, for example, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the professionals who can provide you with the information you need. This opportunity will help you more effectively work with regulatory agencies, enhance your organization’s operations and build in-demand professional skills. 

Who will be speaking at the animal health conference? 

Speakers from the USDA and FDA include: 

• John Bare, DVM — Veterinary Biologics Epidemiologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics (USDA CVB) 
• David Longstaff, Ph.D. — Division of Generic Animal Drugs Team Leader, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA CVM)
• Renee Schnurr — Director of Inspection and Compliance, U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics (USDA CVB)
• Lisa Troutman, DVM — Senior Scientist and Veterinary Medical Officer, Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine 

Attendees also will have the opportunity to pick a conference track that relates to an agency based on their work. To further deepen knowledge of the regulatory affairs processes, everyone will engage in hands-on activities designed to practice what they have learned in the case study workshop.