Medical device expert panels

In the European Union (EU), medical device expert panels provide input on the clinical and performance assessment of certain high-risk medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices for their conformity assessments.
HumanMedical devices

Added on 26 January 2026:
Information on who can join a medical device expert panel, plus how to join and why

The medical device expert panels help ensure the safety and performance of medical devices on the EU market. 

The expert panels also facilitate their timely availability for patients.

The European Commission established the expert panels in line with the following EU regulations:

For more information on medical devices, see:

Responsibilities

The expert panels have the following responsibilities:

  • Providing opinions on notified bodies’ clinical evaluation of certain high-risk medical devices
  • Providing views on the performance evaluation of certain high-risk in vitro diagnostic medical devices
  • Advising the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) and European Commission on the safety and performance of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices
  • Advising manufacturers of high-risk medical devices on their clinical development strategy or proposals for clinical investigations
  • Advising manufacturers and notified bodies on a possible orphan device status and on the clinical evaluation of orphan medical devices
  • Advising Member States, manufacturers and notified bodies on various scientific and technical matters
  • Contributing to the development and maintenance of guidance documents, common specifications and international standards
  • Providing opinions in response to consultations from manufacturers, Member States and notified bodies

For more information, see:

Composition

The European Commission appoints expert panel members in consultation with the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG). This process is based on their scientific, clinical and technical expertise.

It maintains a list of eligible experts who are not appointed to a panel. If needed, these experts can be asked to support the work of an expert panel.

The experts' CVs and declarations of interest (DoIs) are available on the European Commission's website.

More information on how to join an expert panel is available below.

Expert panels themes

There are 13 expert panels for medical devices.

A screening panel determines whether an expert panel opinion is needed.

There are 12 thematic panels:

  • Orthopaedics, traumatology, rehabilitation, rheumatology
  • Circulatory system
  • Neurology
  • Respiratory system, anaesthesiology, intensive care
  • Endocrinology and diabetes
  • General and plastic surgery and dentistry
  • Obstetrics and gynaecology, including reproductive medicine
  • Gastroenterology and hepatology
  • Nephrology and urology
  • Ophthalmology
  • In vitro diagnostic medical devices
  • Paediatrics and rare diseases

A coordination committee composed of the expert panels' chairs and vice-chairs enables information-sharing and maintains common standards and procedures.

Opinions, views and advice

The opinions, views and advice that the expert panels provide are publicly available:

EMA's role in expert panels

EMA provides administrative, technical and scientific support to the expert panels. 

This is accordance with the Regulation on EMA's Reinforced Role (Regulation (EU) 2022/123). 

For more information, see:

Why join an expert panel

Expert selected for the medical device expert panels have the opportunity to be involved in the following activities: 

  • Supporting EU public health by providing independent expertise on high-risk medical devices
  • Supporting innovation through scientific advice that helps shape the development of new medical devices
  • Being at the forefront of medical device innovation in Europe, including novel / breakthrough technologies and orphan devices
  • Collaborating and networking with peer experts across clinical, scientific and engineering disciplines in the EU

Remuneration

Experts selected are also remunerated when involved in specific tasks. Remuneration depends on task and role. There is a fixed fee of 450 Euros per day.

Experts receive assignments of 3 or 5 years, depending on group and purpose, as explained below:

Group Purpose Duration of assignment
Expert panel Responsible for 
delivering 
opinions/ views
and advice		 3 years (renewable)
Central list May be used to 
support the work 
of expert panels		 5 years

For detailed information on aspects like remuneration and time commitments of selected experts, see: 

Who can join an expert panel

Experts interested in applying to join a medical device expert panel need experience in the following areas:

  • Clinical studies
  • Research and development
  • Assessing safety and / or performance of medical devices or in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDs)

Typical expert profiles include clinicians, biomedical engineers and researchers.

Applicants need to meet the following eligibility criteria: 

  • EU, EEA (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) or Turkey citizenship (please note that applicants with other nationalities will not be considered)
  • At least 10 years of relevant professional experience (counting from the date of first university degree)
  • No financial interest in the medical device industry  (e.g. employment, consultancy, shareholding) or in a notified body (past interests must be declared and will be assessed case-by-case)
  • Good knowledge of the English language enabling active participation in deliberations and report writing

How to join an expert panel

Experts with clinical or scientific expertise in the relevant medical fields can apply to join an expert panel. 

They can apply by responding to the call for expression of interest listed below:

The call for expression of interest remains open until 2 September 2029. 

Experts can apply until 2 March 2029, up to six months before the end date of this call.

For queries, please contact expertselection@ema.europa.eu. If you encounter technical issues with the application, please raise a ticket via EMA Service Desk or call +31 (0)88 781 8520.

For step-by-step instructions on how to apply, select the expandable panels below:

  • Create an EMA account to receive your credentials (username and password) via EMA Account Management Portal
  • When you create an EMA account, the system will send an email with a token from register@ema.europa.eu
  • Check your spam folder if you do not receive the email promptly 

Important to note: 

  • If you already have an EMA account, do not create a new EMA account
  • If you have forgotten your credentials, please visit the EMA Account Management Portal and recover them

  • Log in to the Expert Management Tool with the email address and password used to create the EMA account
  • Select an authentication method from the bottom of the window (e.g. phone) and follow the prompts to get the code
  • Click on “Select and action”
  • Click on “Open Call for expression of interest” button
  • Select “Open call for EXPAMED expert”

  • Fill in your contact details, affiliation, experience, and expertise
  • Review and confirm the eligibility criteria
  • Upload a copy of your ID / passport (up to 20 MB) - make sure that your country and signature are visible; any other information contained on the ID document may be redacted
  • Click on “Submit” button
  • A window appears with the “Activity log” where you can see the "Registration Checklist"

  • Click on the "Declaration of Interests" button to fill in all required information in the dedicated sections - instructions are available under each field
  • Click on the “Next” button once you have filled in all the required information
  • Indicate that you agree to abide by the declaration on confidentiality
  • Indicate that you agree to abide by the declaration on commitment
  • Click on the “Submit” button
  • Continue to next step in the application process as indicated under the "Registration checklist" and click on the “Curriculum Vitae” button

Important to note:

  •  Experts must keep their declaration on interests up to date, ready for review at any time during selection and throughout their participation

  • Fill in the fields with information relevant to your professional experience and areas of expertise
  • Click on the “Save” button and continue with the next step, “More: Expamed expression of interest – details” 

Important to note:

  • Please ensure you provide full, dated and up-to-date details of your education and work experience, as they impact both the eligibility and selection criteria  
  • Please note that copying and pasting from another document may result in readability issues, which may mean missing important information for the review of your application
  • You can open the PDF copy of your CV from the "Activity page" to check readability

Please ensure you tick and complete the following sections:

  • “Direct experience with the use of medical devices and IVDs” with the number of years of experience for each relevant sub-section under medical devices or IVDs
  • “Other experience” (5 tick boxes) - these tick boxes can be supported by the “Projects” section of your CV
  • “Expert panel” (to indicate which expert panel best fits your expertise) - please note that several panels can be ticked 

Please make sure to submit your application.

For more information on how to apply, see: 

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