The H. Thomas Austern Writing Competition is intended to encourage law students interested in the areas of law affecting FDA-regulated industries: food, drugs, medical devices, biologics, dietary supplements, cosmetics, veterinary, cannabis, or tobacco and nicotine products. Top papers will be considered for publication in the Food and Drug Law Journal. Students currently enrolled in a JD program at any of the nation's ABA-accredited law schools and 2024-2025 academic year graduates are eligible to participate. Submissions that have been submitted to other writing contests are acceptable. However, articles must be unpublished at the time of judging in order to remain in consideration for the competition. Articles that have been accepted for forthcoming publication will still be eligible for placement in the competition but will not be considered for publication in the Food and Drug Law Journal. Published papers will be disqualified from the Austern Competition. Paper topics are limited to FDA and regulated agencies' laws and regulations. Topical focus should be on FDA-regulated industries: food, drugs, animal drugs, biologics, cosmetics, diagnostics, dietary supplements, medical devices, veterinary devices, cannabis, or tobacco and nicotine products. Students will submit an abstract. No author identifying information may be included in the body of the text. The author's name should only be shared when registering. Please visit the award's website for more information.