Anne L. Thurn, Ph.D., Director, Evidence-Based Review Program; Director, Communications Program
Anne L. Thurn, Ph.D., joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) in 2002 as the Director of the then newly established ODS Evidence-Based Review Program. As Director, Dr. Thurn leads ODS efforts to prioritize topics for evidence-based reviews with NIH institutes and Centers and oversees ODS-sponsored evidence reviews performed by the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality's Evidence-Based Practice Center Program. She organizes the development of ODS research agendas through collaborations with NIH Institutes and centers.
Dr. Thurn also directs ODS communications activities related to the development and dissemination of science-based information about dietary supplements. The goal of the ODS communications program is to promote the public's understanding of the role of nutrition and dietary supplements in maintaining health. Dr. Thurn oversees development and dissemination of outreach materials and other activities, including the ODS Web site, that are designed to inform and educate the public, health care providers, and scientists about the benefits and risks of dietary supplements.
Prior to joining ODS, Dr. Thurn worked in several capacities for the NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) from 1992 to 2001, including her last position at NCI as Director, Cancer Information Products and Systems (CIPS). As CIPS Director she had responsibility for all activities and operations of the program, including the Cancer.gov Web site.
Dr. Thurn received her Ph.D. from the department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Columbia University in New York. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.