Vinay Prasad, named to lead the FDA agency tasked with regulating vaccines and gene therapy, has made controversial comments regarding the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday it will hold a meeting of experts on May 22 to discuss COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for the upcoming immunization campaign.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced the appointment Tuesday in a message to agency staff, praising Prasad's “long and distinguished history in medicine.” Prasad is the latest in a series of medical contrarians and critics of COVID-19 measures to join the federal government under President Donald Trump.