Namandje Bumpus

Background

About Namandje Bumpus

Dr. Namandjé N. Bumpus is the Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer at Charles River Laboratories. In this role, she leads scientific strategy, oversees research and development initiatives, and partners across the company to advance scientific innovation. Dr. Bumpus has also served as a strategic advisor to academic medical centers, investment firms, associations, and pharmaceutical, beauty, biotech, and techbio companies regarding regulatory science strategy and policy. Prior to this, she served as the FDA's Principal Deputy Commissioner until December 31, 2024. Dr. Bumpus began her career at the FDA as Chief Scientist in August 2022, before being promoted to Principal Deputy Commissioner in February 2024. As Principal Deputy Commissioner, she oversaw the agency’s operations and worked closely with the FDA Commissioner to develop and implement key public health initiatives. Before joining the FDA, Dr. Bumpus was the E.K. Marshall and Thomas H. Maren Professor and director of the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She served on the faculty at Hopkins for 12 years. Dr. Bumpus is recognized internationally as an expert in basic and translational pharmacology. Her research has spanned across drug metabolism, mechanisms of drug-induced toxicity, pharmacogenetics, bioanalytical chemistry, infectious disease pharmacology, and single cell biology. Prior to becoming a faculty member at Hopkins, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. Dr. Bumpus earned a PhD in pharmacology from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Occidental College.Dr. Bumpus is a past-president of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. She previously served as chair of the NIH Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action study section. Her scientific contributions have been recognized through national and international awards including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, John J. Abel Award from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the Leon I. Goldberg Award from the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and honorary membership in the Society of Toxicology. Dr. Bumpus is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the National Academy of Medicine.