(Reuters) -Vinay Prasad has regained his role as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s chief medical and scientific officer, according to an update on the health agency’s website.

Last month, Prasad returned to his role overseeing vaccine, gene therapy and blood product regulation at the FDA, a little more than a week after he left.

Prasad, an oncologist who was a fierce critic of U.S. COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates, was named the director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary in May.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

In his role as chief medical and scientific officer, Prasad will advise the FDA Commissioner and other senior officials on emerging medical and scientific issues impacting regulatory science and public health.

(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Sriraj Kalluvila)