UNPA signs memorandum of understanding with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences10/2/2019
Agreement allows UNPA and the dietary supplement industry to tap into the strengths of the medical school’s analytical, technical and policy expertise  SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 2, 2019) — In an effort to promote the advancement of botanical dietary supplement research, including safety and efficacy studies, the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) partnership.
The agreement includes projects to further botanical identification programs and recognizes that such cooperation will advance consumer confidence, industry standards and compliance with federal laws and regulations governing botanical dietary supplements. “This agreement allows UNPA to tap into the strengths of the medical school’s analytical, technical and policy expertise, and specifically, its expertise in clinical trials and toxicology,” said Loren Israelsen, UNPA president. “This agreement is in alignment with and compliments our MOU with the world-leading work being done at the National Center for Natural Products Research Center (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi, as the two schools already work together and share resources pertaining to the study of botanical products and dietary supplements.” “We are particularly excited about the recently signed MOU with UNPA, a leading trade organization in the world of dietary supplements, that will help to bridge the gap between academic centers and the dietary supplement industry, resulting in mutually beneficial and long-lasting collaborative efforts,” said Igor Koturbash, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor and vice-chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and co-director of the Center for Dietary Supplements Research at the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The center’s mission is to provide industry, regulatory agencies and the public with credible information, assessments, expert opinions and risk communication, as well as professional and educational services relating to the efficacy and safety of dietary supplements. “Our partnership with NCNPR, where we complement NCNPR’s well-recognized international expertise with our state-of-the-art analytical tools and expertise for safety and efficacy, results in a powerful tool that is capable of covering all the aspects of science pertinent to dietary supplements,” Koturbash added. Both parties hope the MOU partnership will lead to a greater understanding of new products with high potential but that lack substantial knowledge about their safety and efficacy, such as the cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. It is also hoped that testing products for their safety and/or efficacy will aid in eliminating “bad actors,” whose products will be less competitive in the marketplace. Uniquely, UNPA organizes its key objectives and work plans through a series of MOUs with more than 20 U.S. and international trade and non-profit organizations, academic institutions and other groups that bring expertise, influence and trusted reputations. By laying out its joint objectives via an MOU, UNPA is able to best serve the needs of its members and its industry stakeholders with greatest effect and efficiency. Learn more about UNPA’s MOU partnerships at the UNPA website. About the United Natural Products Alliance The United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) is an international association representing nearly 120 leading natural products, dietary supplement, functional food and scientific and technology and related service companies that share a commitment to provide consumers with natural health products of superior quality, benefit, reliability and sustainability. Founded in 1992 in Utah—widely regarded as the epicenter of dietary supplement manufacturing in the United States—UNPA was instrumental in the passage of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and continues to take a leadership position in state and federal regulatory issues and industry best practices. For more information, visit www.unpa.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Frank Lampe, VP, Communications & Industry Relations, 720.398.8172, frank@unpa.com. About the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is the state's only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes. It is the only adult Level-1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report named UAMS Medical Center the state's Best Hospital; and ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top 50 nationwide. For more information, visit www.uams.edu. MEDIA CONTACT: Liz Caldwell, director of communications, 501.686.8995, Liz@uams.edu. Comments are closed.
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