Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D., Director, Dietary Supplements Methods and Reference Materials Program

Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D. joined the ODS as Director of the newly formed Dietary Supplements Methods and Reference Materials Program in December of 2001. In this role, he oversees efforts to enhance and stimulate research and training in fields relevant to dietary supplements at the NIH and to promote development of validated analytical methods and reference materials for use by industry, regulatory agencies, and clinical researchers. Prior to this, he was Vice President for Scientific and Technical Affairs at the American Herbal Products Association. Before joining the AHPA, he spent 12 years as a research chemist at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Dr. Betz is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy (1988) under the tutelage of Dr. Ara Der Marderosian at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia). His research interests lie in the areas of toxic natural products, plant derived foods which may prevent chronic disease, and in analytical methods for determination of botanical quality. He has been a principal investigator in the National Cancer Institute’s "Designer Foods" program as well as Project Manager for FDA’s “Plant Toxins” and “Chemical, Biological, and Toxicological Characterization of Food Plants” research programs. He has served as AOACI General Referee for Botanical Supplements and served as FDA’s representative to the United States Pharmacopeia’s Subcommittee on Natural Products. He was elected to USP’s Committee of Experts (Nomenclature) for the years 2000-2005. Dr. Betz has over 30 publications in the area of plant toxins and analytical methods for determination of bioactive constituents of botanical dietary supplements. He continues to work toward ensuring the quality and safety of botanical products.