Catherine Parker

Catherine Parker was appointed Director General of the Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate (BGTD) of the Health Products and Food Branch, effective 29 June 2015. BGTD is responsible for the regulatory oversight of biologic and radiopharmaceutical drugs for human use in Canada. Ms. Parker was BGTD’s Acting Senior Executive Director from 2013-2014 and previously, was the Director of its Office of Policy and International Collaboration from 2001 to 2012, where she played a key role in the development of several major regulatory initiatives including the Safety of Human Cells, Tissues and Organs for Transplantation Regulations, the new Blood Regulations, and the Global Pandemic Influenza Regulatory Preparedness Initiative. She also held previous positions within BGTD as Director of its Submission Management Division and as a reviewer of biotechnology products. Prior to joining the Health Products and Food Branch, Ms. Parker held the position of biologist within the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control of Health Canada.

Ms. Parker is also Health Canada’s representative at the Assembly and Management Committee of the International Council on Harmonization (ICH) and the Steering Committee of the Pan-American Network for Drug Regulatory Harmonization (PANDRH).