New partnerships part of shift in UNPA's overall strategy
Known up to now primarily as a trade organization representing dietary supplement companies, UNPA is expanding its vision with the new partnerships. It’s a move to get out ahead of the conversation of what the overall view of the alternative health industry should look like in the 21st Century, said Frank Lampe, vice president of communications for UNPA.
“It brings to the table a lot of interesting perspectives and knowledge bases that we do not have internally,” Lampe told NutraIngredients-USA.
“From the shifting political landscape and healthcare reform to the expanding U.S. and global markets, there are many issues of vital importance to consumers and companies that must be addressed as the industry moves ahead,” said Loren Israelsen, UNPA president. “We look forward to working with these varied partners to help us develop wide-ranging and compelling messages about our industry’s growing economic significance and global market relevance.”
One of the new events arising from the partnerships is a one-day seminar on personalized medicine, Lampe said. The Oct. 25 event in Salt Lake City is being held in conjunction with the Personalized Medicine Institute, he said.
New partners
The organizations with whom UNPA has signed MOUs are:
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP): Founded in 1985, AANP is the national professional society of licensed naturopathic physicians and corporations collectively striving to advance the profession of naturopathic medicine nationwide. For more information, visit the AANP website.
American Botanical Council (ABC): A nonprofit member-supported organization whose mission is to provide education using science-based and traditional information to promote responsible use of herbal medicine to the public, researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, industry and media. For more information, visit the ABC website.
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED): An association of processors, refiners, manufacturers, distributors, marketers, retailers and supporters of products containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids. GOED’s mission is to set high standards for the business sector, while promoting and protecting the category and enhancing its awareness. For more information, visit the GOED website.
The International Association for the Advancement of High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC): The association represents members of academia, industry, research and regulatory, promotes the use of HPTLC in plant analysis, develops and validates standards for plant identification, and provides information and training about HPTLC to the scientific community. For more information, visit the HPTLC website.
Medicus Research: A contract research organization, started and led by integrative medicine pioneer Jay Udani, M.D., with expertise in dietary supplements, functional foods, medical foods and botanical drugs. The organization is founded on the principle of bringing the quality of human clinical trials for natural health products up to the standard of Good Clinical Practice. For more information, visit the Medicus Research website.
Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute: A nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the importance of personalized lifestyle medicine as a key solution for chronic illness management. The institute, headed by Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., collaborates with medical experts, scientists, educators, advocacy groups, medical societies and legislators. For more information, visit the PLM Institute website.
NSF agreement
UNPA also has recently signed an agreement with NSF International covering the development and collaboration of educational programs and trainings to help companies comply with the myriad regulations surrounding the implementation of provisions of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act.
The new UNPA partners join a roster of other partnership organizations, including:
- American Herbal Pharmacopoeia
- National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
- New Hope Natural Media
- Bent Creek Institute at the North Carolina Arboretum.
