Researchers from the University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy have developed a center that will shed light on the safety of dietary supplements. The Center for Dietary Supplement Safety, based in the College of Pharmacy, will collect, analyze and disseminate scientific information about dietary supplements. Commenting on the creation of this center was Richard Kingston, PharmD, professor of pharmacy and director of the center. “The public is starved for information about dietary supplements and their safety,” he said. “We want to provide data to answer questions on a more systematic and ongoing basis, and provide day-to-day monitoring of safety issues associated with the use of dietary supplements.” Goals for the center include: serving as a clearing house for data on safety related issues associated with supplement use; publishing reports on product safety; developing a national supplement product database of ingredients; and promoting dialog about supplements between manufacturers, healthcare providers, the public and regulators. The center will seek funding through government grants, as well as donations and service contracts from the dietary supplement industry or other non-governmental organizations. As an academic unit of the University of Minnesota, the Center will maintain a policy of full disclosure regarding safety findings that impact public health. Mr. Kingston, who will serve as director of the center, is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of post-market surveillance and product safety regarding consumer products. A scientific advisory panel will oversee the reporting of information to industry, the FDA and the public. Mr. Kingston also is a partner and clinician with SafetyCall International, a poison control-focused private medical practice and university affiliated teaching site that provides clinical services on behalf of companies, government and other organizations. SafetyCall clinicians manage product exposures by responding to questions and providing medical advice to consumers or healthcare providers reporting adverse effects during or after product use. In an effort to centralize safety related information on supplements, manufacturers will be encouraged to share adverse event information collected on their behalf by SafetyCall and other poison centers with the new center.