Update (18 Aug 2005): Synopsis of Public Meeting Recommendations, Presentations, and Comments
On May 20th ODS will convene a public meeting to review its Strategic Plan in light of
additional and emerging needs as well as new opportunities that may be identified at
this event. It will be held at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, MD,
from 9am to 4pm, and you're invited to be present and participate in the discussions.
The Strategic Plan (for 2004-2009) defines ODS's central mission: to strengthen knowledge
and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, stimulating
and supporting research, disseminating research results, and educating the public to
foster an enhanced quality of life and health for the U.S. population. Its five major
programmatic goals are to:
- expand the evaluation of the role of dietary supplements in disease prevention
and in reduction of risk factors associated with disease;
- foster research that evaluates the role of dietary supplements in maintaining and
improving optimal physical and mental health and performance;
- stimulate and support research to further understanding of the biochemical and
cellular effects of dietary supplements on biological systems and their physiological
impact across the life cycle;
- promote and support the development and improvement of methodologies appropriate
to the scientific study of dietary supplement ingredients; and
- expand and conduct outreach efforts that inform and educate the public, health
care providers, and scientists about the benefits and risks of dietary supplements.
At the public meeting ODS staff will give a brief overview of the office's activities
and then listen as invited guests and interested attendees present their oral statements.
We especially hope to hear from consumers, health-care providers, industry, media,
and academics with ideas on enhancing the scope and depth of ODS programs and perhaps
suggest new activities that the office might consider. Oral statements will be limited
to ten minutes for invited speakers and five minutes for others who pre-register to
speak (but feel free to provide us with more extensive written testimony and supporting
documents).
If you would like to make an oral statement, please register for the meeting by May 6
and be familiar with the ODS Strategic Plan (available on the ODS web site or request
one from us via mail or email). Those coming to listen may register in advance but are
not required to do so. The meeting is open to all at no charge. If you cannot attend
but wish to make us aware of your views, submit them in writing by June 30 via regular
mail or email (at ODSplan@od.nih.gov).
For meeting details and to register to attend, please visit: TIME EXPIRED.
An announcement for this meeting is published in the Federal Register of April 4, 2005 (PDF, 57kB).