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Two New Staff Scientists Join ODS: Barbara Sorkin and Cindy Davis
In our last issue, we reported that staff scientists Rebecca Costello and Marguerite Klein retired from the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Their successors have arrived!
Barbara C. Sorkin, Ph.D., is the new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Botanical Research Centers Program, an effort to advance the scientific base of knowledge about botanical safety, efficacy, and biological action. Dr. Sorkin comes to ODS from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), where for 9 years she administered extramural research efforts in the areas of antioxidants, healthy aging, cancer, and sleep. She also coordinated NCCAM programs to enhance clinical and translational research on complementary and alternative medicine. Dr. Sorkin received her B.S. and M.S. from the Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry Department at Yale University, and her Ph.D. from the Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology at Rockefeller University. Prior to joining NIH, she was a faculty member at the Forsyth Institute in Boston, MA, and at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA.
Cindy D. Davis, Ph.D., joins ODS as the new director of grants and extramural activities, encouraging partnerships with other NIH Institutes and Centers to facilitate funding of important research on dietary supplements. Before coming to ODS, she was a program director in the Nutritional Sciences Research Group for 9 years at the NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Davis received her B.S. from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in nutrition from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a minor in human cancer biology, and completed postdoctoral training at NCI. Prior to joining NIH, she was a research nutritionist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota.
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6th Annual ODS Dietary Supplement Research Practicum, June 4–7
Applications are now being accepted through April 2 to attend the 6th Annual Mary Frances Picciano Dietary Supplement Research Practicum on the NIH campus from June 4–7. The practicum provides a comprehensive grounding in issues, concepts, and controversies about supplements and ingredients in these products. It also details the importance of scientific investigations to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and value of dietary supplements for health promotion and disease prevention, as well as how to carry out this type of research.
The practicum is open primarily to full-time academic faculty and doctoral-level students in health-related disciplines. This year, for the first time, applications will also be accepted from health care providers and scientists with a master’s degree or higher whose work involves dietary supplements; master’s-level students in health-related programs; and students in professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, and nursing. Approximately 150 individuals will be selected to participate.
There is no cost to attend the practicum; however, room, board, and transportation expenses are the responsibility of each participant. Further details about the practicum and how to apply can be found at: http://odspracticum.od.nih.gov.
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News You Can Use
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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. Over the past few months, ODS has signed onto several funding initiatives. Further details are available.
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ODS Staff News
ODS Nutritionist Jody S. Engel, M.A., R.D., has been named acting director of communications for the NIH Office of Disease Prevention, the parent body of ODS. Ms. Engel will continue as one of the registered dietitians on the ODS scientific staff.
ODS Senior Nutrition Scientist Johanna Dwyer, D.Sc., R.D., has been named a fellow of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). ASPEN’s 2012 inaugural fellows class is recognized “for their dedication to clinical nutrition.”
Recent ODS Staff Publications
For a complete list, see the ODS Web site: Staff Publications.
- Sander LC, Bedner M, Tims MC, Yen JH, Duewer DL, Porter B, Christopher SJ, Day RD, Long SE, Molloy JL, Murphy KE, Lang BE, Lieberman R, Wood LJ, Payne MJ, Roman MC, Betz JM, Nguyenpho A, Sharpless KE, Wise SA. Development and certification of green tea-containing standard reference materials. Anal Bioanal Chem 402:473–487; 2012.
- Phinney K, Bedner M, Tai SS-C, Vamathevan V, Sander LC, Sharpless KE, Wise SA, Yen JH, Schleicher RL, Chaudhary-Webb M, Pfeiffer CM, Betz JM, Coates PM, Picciano MF. Development and certification of a standard reference material for vitamin D metabolites in human serum. Anal Chem 84:956–962; 2012.
- Barry MJ, Meleth S, Kreder KJ, Avins AL, Nickel JC, Roehrborn CG, Crawford ED, Foster HE, Kaplan SA, McCullough A, Andriole GL, Naslund MJ, Lee JY, Williams OD, Kusek JW, Meyers CM, Betz JM, McVary KT. Effect of increasing doses of saw palmetto on lower urinary tract symptoms. JAMA 306(12):1344–1351; September 28, 2011.
- Barry MJ, Avins AL, Meleth S. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Urological Symptoms Study Group [Betz JM]. Performance of the American Urological Association Symptom Index with and without an additional urge incontinence item. Urology 78:550–554; 2011.
- Brown, PN, Chan M, Paley L, Betz JM. Determination of major phenolic compounds in Echinacea spp. raw materials and finished products by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection: single-laboratory validation matrix extension. J AOAC Int 94:1400–1410; 2011.
- Costello R, Lentino C, Regan K. Overview of the NIH research portfolio on magnesium [abstract]. In: Selected abstracts of European Magnesium Meeting EUROMAG; June 8–10, 2011; Bologna, Italy. Magnes Res 24(3):S138; 2011.
- Fulgoni VL 3rd, Keast DR, Bailey RL, Dwyer J. Foods, fortificants, and supplements: where do Americans get their nutrients? J Nutr 141(10):1847–1854; October 2011. Epub 2011 Aug 24.
Recent ODS Staff Presentations
For a complete list, see the ODS Web site: Staff Presentations.
- Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine 9th Annual Natural Supplements Conference: An Evidence-Based Update
January 19–22, 2012, San Diego, CA
Joseph Betz gave two presentations titled, Reviewing the Research and Literature and Office of Dietary Supplements Botanical Research Centers Program, on January 20. Rebecca Costello presented Supplement Use in the Military on January 20, and Dietary Supplements at the Point of Care Resources with Paula Gardiner on January 21. Also, Rebecca Costello, Cindy Lentino, Leila Saldanha, Pothur Srinivas, and Christopher Sempos presented their poster titled, Select Review of Dietary Supplements for Endothelial Dysfunction: How Robust Are the Data? ODS also had an exhibit booth at this meeting.
- Tufts University
December 5, 2011, Boston, MA
Cindy Davis gave a seminar titled, Gastrointestinal Microflora, Bioactive Food Components, and Cancer Prevention.
- Dietetic Interns Joint Class Day, NIH
November 14, 2011, Bethesda, MD
Jody Engel gave a presentation titled, Dietary Supplements: What Registered Dietitians Need to Know, to Washington, DC, area dietetic interns.
- 8th Workshop on the Assessment of Adequate and Safe Intake of Dietary Amino Acids
November 10, 2011, Washington, DC
Robert Russell gave a presentation titled, Key Events Dose-Response Framework (KEDRF) and Its Application to Nutrients: Update on Vitamin A and Progress Reports on Other Nutrient Case Studies.
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
November 1, 2011, Newark, NJ
Kathryn Camp gave a presentation at the School of Health Related Professionals Department of Nutritional Sciences 35th Anniversary Seminar titled, Nutritional Genomics: Controversies and Application to Dietetic Practice.
- University of Mississippi Medical Center
October 19, 2011, Jackson, MS
Christopher Sempos presented a seminar titled, Serum Total 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Death From All Causes.
- National Institute on Aging
October 18, 2011, Baltimore, MD
Joseph Betz gave a seminar as Distinguished Lecturer in Neuroscience and Aging titled, Scientific and Regulatory Challenges to Biomedical Research on Dietary Supplements.
- Medical Staff Education Day
October 14, 2011, Chambersburg, PA
Paul Thomas gave a presentation at Chambersburg Hospital titled, Herbs and Other Dietary Supplements.
Upcoming Events
- Minnesota Food & Nutrition Expo
February 25, 2012, Minneapolis, MN
ODS will have an exhibit booth (#118).
- Natural Products Expo West 2012
March 9–11, 2012, Anaheim, CA
ODS will have an exhibit booth (#1114).
- American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition
March 9–12, 2012, New Orleans, LA
ODS will have an exhibit booth (#426).
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
March 26, 2012, Madison, WI
Christopher Sempos has been elected to deliver the 2012 Annual Philip M. Farrell Population Health Distinguished Alumni Lecture recognizing outstanding graduates of the Department of Population Health Sciences.
- American Society on Aging – Aging in America
March 29–31, 2012, Washington, DC
ODS will have an exhibit booth (#815).
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ODS Update provides information on news, activities, and resources from the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). ODS is a program office within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The mission of ODS is 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.
To receive ODS Update via email, join the ODS listserv.
ODS Update is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. If you copy or distribute its content, please credit the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and include the publication title and date. Do not use our information in any way that suggests we endorse any product or service.
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About ODS
The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the principal biomedical and behavioral research agency of the United States Government. NIH is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Contact Us
Office of Dietary Supplements
National Institutes of Health
6100 Executive Blvd., Room 3B01
Bethesda, MD 20892-7517
Email: ods@nih.gov
Web site: http://ods.od.nih.gov
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