ODS Update

May 2010

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American Society for Nutrition Honors ODS Nutrition Scientists Mary Frances Picciano and Elizabeth Yetley
On April 25 at the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) Annual Meeting in Anaheim, CA, ASN President Robert M. Russell, MD, presented two ODS scientists with distinguished service awards.

Mary Frances Picciano, PhD, ODS Senior Nutrition Research Scientist, received the David Kritchevsky Career Achievement Award in Nutrition "in recognition of an outstanding career in nutrition." The citation reads, "she has influenced public policy through evidence-based research on vitamin D, folic acid, and other nutrients." In previous senior faculty positions at the University of Illinois and then Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Picciano "was highly esteemed for her dedication to students, her fine teaching, her imaginative research on mothers and infants, and her dedication to all things nutritional." The award citation notes her "buoyant spirit, inquiring mind and achievements in nutrition science," qualities that were enthusiastically applauded with a standing ovation as Dr. Picciano accepted her engraved plaque.

Elizabeth Yetley, PhD, retired ODS Senior Nutrition Scientist, and currently an ODS scientific consultant, received the Conrad A. Elvehjem Award for Public Service in Nutrition "in recognition of specific and distinguished service to the public through the science of nutrition." While at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, notes the citation, she "spent over 30 years formulating and promoting public health policies that are grounded in science," among them directing the folic acid fortification program. At ODS, she “advanced the role of Systematic Evidence-Based Reviews in various nutrition applications, particularly in developing Dietary Reference Intakes."

Dr. Russell remarked that the awards to Drs. Picciano and Yetley showed "the excellent caliber of staff" at the ODS. We would only add that Dr. Russell himself is part of the ODS senior scientific staff as a Special Expert.

ASN Also Honors ODS Senior Nutrition Scientist Johanna Dwyer
In recognition of "outstanding volunteer contributions to support and advance the society," Johanna Dwyer, D.Sc., ODS Senior Nutrition Scientist, became the first recipient of the American Society for Nutrition Volunteer of the Year Award, 2010.

News You Can Use

CARDS Database Updated: Nearly 10,000 Records of Federally-Funded Studies on Dietary Supplements
The Computer Access to Research on Dietary Supplements (CARDS) database holds records of research projects pertaining to dietary supplements funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, and the institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), since fiscal year 1999. The update adds projects funded by the NIH during fiscal year 2008. The CARDS database currently holds 9,852 records. Further information about CARDS and free access to the database are available on the ODS Web site.

Updated Web Site Facilitates Electronic Submission of NIH Grant Applications
The NIH Office of Extramural Research has redesigned its Web site for the electronic submission of grant applications, making it easier to navigate and to locate critical information.

New Funding Opportunities for Research
ODS collaborates on funding initiatives across NIH and with other agencies through mechanisms such as Requests for Applications (RFAs), Program Announcements (PAs), and notices. In the past 2 months, ODS has signed onto several new RFAs, PAs, and notices. These and others can be found on the funding section of the ODS Web site.

ODS Programs and Activities

ODS 15th Anniversary Research Symposium on November 4, 2010
ODS will hold a 1-day symposium in Rockville, MD, to highlight some of the activities in support of its mission "to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, stimulating and supporting research, disseminating research results, and educating the public." ODS is developing a symposium agenda and identifying speakers for this event. Further details will be provided in a later edition of this newsletter and on the ODS Web site.

ODS Staff News

Robert M. Russell has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the US Pharmacopeia (USP), a non–governmental, official public standards–setting authority for prescription and over–the–counter medicines and other healthcare products manufactured or sold in the United States. USP also sets widely recognized standards for food ingredients and dietary supplements.

Recent ODS Staff Publications

Regan L. Bailey, Kevin W. Dodd, Joseph A. Goldman, Jaime J. Gahche, Johanna T. Dwyer, Alanna J. Moshfegh, Christopher T. Sempos, and Mary Frances Picciano. Estimation of total usual calcium and vitamin D intakes in the United States. Journal of Nutrition 140(4):817-822, April 2010.

Marguerite A. Klein, Richard L. Nahin, Mark J. Messina, Jeanne I. Rader, Lilian U. Thompson, Thomas M. Badger, Johanna T. Dwyer, Young S. Kim, Carol H. Pontzer, Pamela E. Starke-Reed, and Connie M. Weaver. Guidance from an NIH workshop on designing, implementing, and reporting clinical studies of soy interventions. Journal of Nutrition 140(6):1192S-1204S, June 2010.

Robert Alan Bonakdar. The H.E.R.B.A.L. Guide: Dietary Supplement Resources for the Clinician. Philadelphia PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010:

• Joseph M. Betz and Mary L. Hardy. Evaluating the botanic dietary supplement literature. Pages 175-184.
• Rebecca B. Costello. The role and programs of the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Pages 192-198.
• Paula Gardiner, Julia Whelan, and Rebecca Costello. Resources on dietary supplements. Pages 252-261.

Johanna Dwyer and Maria DeTolve Donoghue. Editorial: Is risk of Alzheimer’s disease a reason to use dietary supplements? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 91(5):1155-1156, May 2010.

Upcoming Events (May – July 2010)

First International Vitamin Conference
May 19-21: Copenhagen, Denmark
Regan Bailey will give a presentation titled, Unmetabolized Folic Acid in Older Adults in the United States.

7th Annual NHPRS Research Conference & Tradeshow
May 23-26: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Joseph Betz will give a presentation, Pre- and Postmarket Approaches to Adverse Event Investigations on May 24. Marguerite Klein will present, Soy Protein and Isoflavone Research: Challenges in Designing and Evaluating Intervention Studies, also on May 24. ODS will have an exhibit booth at this conference.

Probiotics: From Bench to Market
June 11: New York, NY
Marguerite Klein is on the planning committee of this event.

Probiotic Foods and Supplements: The Science and Regulations of Labeling
June 12: New York, NY
ODS is a co-sponsor of this meeting. Marguerite Klein is on the planning committee of this event and is moderating the session, From Clinical Trials to Market.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Conference
June 23-27: Phoenix, AZ
ODS will have an exhibit booth at this conference.

American Society of Pharmacognosy Annual Meeting
July 10-14: St. Petersburg, FL
ODS will have an exhibit booth at this conference.

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