February 11, 2011 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) has launched the Medical Device Innovation Initiative. The initiative proposes actions the CDRH could take to help accelerate and reduce the cost of development and regulatory evaluation of innovative medical devices safely and based on sound science.
The CDRH is committed to assuring that Americans have timely access to important new technologies and next-generation products without compromising their safety. Each year, millions of Americans benefit from innovative medical devices that reduce suffering, treat previously untreatable conditions, extend lives, and improve public health. CDRH is responsible for advancing public health and facilitating innovation to help bring novel technologies to market and make the medical devices that are already on the market safer and more effective.
The CDRH recognizes that transformative innovative devices typically present new scientific and regulatory challenges. The Innovation Initiative supports the development of innovative products by addressing some of the barriers that can impede a product’s timely progress to market.
The actions include:
• Facilitate the development and regulatory evaluation of innovative medical devices
• Strengthen the U.S. research infrastructure and promote high-quality regulatory science
• Prepare for and respond to transformative innovative technologies and scientific breakthroughs
The CDRH is seeking public comment on the proposals contained in this report through an open public docket and will be hosting a public meeting to solicit stakeholder feedback at the White Oak, Md., campus on March 15, 2011.
November 18, 2025 
