UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplement Research in Women's Health

About The Center

  History

The UIC / NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research was established in 1999 with a grant from the National Institutes of Health's Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), supported with funds from the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) as well as the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).

The U.S. Congress recognized the increased consumer use of alternative and complementary medicine, which prompted the formation of the NCCAM and subsequently recognizing the vast use of dietary supplements among Americans, appropriated funds for ODS to develop botanical research centers in major research institutions across the United states. The UIC/NIH Botanical Center is currently one of six, NIH/ODS supported centers. The UIC Center grant was renewed in 2005.

Mission

The primary goal of the botanical centers is to foster interdisciplinary research to identify the potential health benefits of botanical dietary supplements. Therefore a systematic approach to evaluating the safety and efficacy of these plant based supplements - particularly those botanicals that are already generally available to the U.S. public as dietary supplements - is required.

Research and Training

The UIC/NIH Botanical Center is a research and training center, supporting the development of doctorate level scientists who have and will continue to contribute to this area of study. The Graduate Program provides opportunities for those interested in developing a career in the field of natural products research also known as Pharmacognosy. Recent graduates work for pharmaceutical companies, the natural products industry and government agencies.

The UIC/NIH Botanical Center is guided by its External Advisory Committee (EAC) composed of a team of researchers well qualified to provide expertise in the study of botanicals for human health. The EAC meets with center faculty and staff twice yearly to review the progress of the Center and make suggestions for further research.

Center researchers have had the good fortune to work with NIH, Academic and Industry Partners who have been a source of financial support, collaborative opportunities and even inspiration. The UIC/NIH Botanical Center meets annually with those sister Botanical Centers supported by NIH to provide an update and meet with colleagues in the field. It also provides an opportunity to meet and receive feedback from the Centers NIH grant managers and officers who provide outstanding support and encouragement.