Call for independent scientific experts to join EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) - deadline extended

The Health and Safety Directorate-General of the European Commission has published a call for expressions of interest to join EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) as independent scientific experts.

This is an opportunity for specialists in pharmacovigilance to be part of one of the most advanced systems for the supervision of medicines and to make sure that medicines for patients in Europe are safe and effective. Appointees can make a real difference to the health of millions of patients in Europe.

Successful candidates will be appointed for a period of three years, starting 2 July 2021. PRAC members currently serving as independent experts can reapply.

Expressions of interest should be submitted to the European Commission no later than 4 December 2020*. Interested persons must complete both the application form and the form on declaration of interests, which can be downloaded from the website of the European Commission.

The independent scientific experts will be selected by the European Commission for their expertise. They are expected to attend the meetings of the PRAC, which meets each month, and to contribute to the Committee's work by actively participating in PRAC's scientific discussions, examining and commenting on documents. Working for the Committee will also involve some preparatory work before every session.

The PRAC has a key function for the assessment and monitoring of the safety of human medicines. The PRAC's mandate covers all aspects of the risk management of the use of medicines including the detection, assessment, minimisation and communication relating to the risk of adverse reactions.

The Committee is composed of one member and one alternate appointed by each Member State, six scientific expert members appointed by the European Commission, one member and alternate representing healthcare professionals and one member and alternate representing patient organisations, also appointed by the European Commission. The six scientific experts are expected to complement and further strengthen the expertise provided by the Member States' appointees and the patient organisations' and healthcare professionals' representatives.

For more information, please visit the website of the European Commission.

* The deadline was updated on 20 November 2020 to reflect the extension to the deadline by the European Commission. The original deadline was 20 November 2020.