Gabriel Giancaspro, PhD, joins the American Botanical Council's advisory board
he United States Pharmacopeial Convention congratulates Gabriel Giancaspro, PhD, on his selection to the advisory board of the American Botanical Council
The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) congratulates Gabriel Giancaspro, PhD, on his selection to the advisory board of the American Botanical Council (ABC).
Dr Giancaspro, Vice President of the Foods, Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines Division at USP, is one of 13 experts named as new advisory board members. An analytical chemist with expertise in the study of medicinal plants and methods for identity, purity and contaminants, Dr Giancaspro joins a diverse group of international leaders in fields that range from aboriginal knowledge and ethnobotany to biochemistry, microbiology and pharmacognosy.
The American Botanical Council is a leading international non-profit organisation addressing research and educational issues regarding herbs, teas, medicinal plants, essential oils, and other beneficial plant-derived materials. Based in Austin, Texas, ABC publishes the peer-reviewed quarterly journal HerbalGram and is managing partner of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Programme – an international consortium dedicated to education regarding the quality control of herbs, botanical extracts, and essential oils.
'I am honoured to join the ABC Advisory Board and pleased to see an increased focus on quality, identity and purity of botanical products,' said Dr Giancaspro.
ABC advisory board members bring their perspective and experiences from numerous scientific fields related to the study of medicinal plants. They volunteer their time to peer reviewed articles that appear in HerbalGram and other peer-reviewed ABC publications such as HerbalEGram and HerbClips. Additionally, ABC management and HerbalGram editors seek feedback and advice from advisory board members on research questions, article ideas, ABC policies and book reviews, among many other topics.
'ABC is deeply pleased that Dr Giancaspro has accepted our invitation to join our advisory board,' said Mark Blumenthal, ABC Founder and Executive Director. 'I have known Gabe for many years and have always appreciated his cordial and co-operative nature, as well as his knowledge of quality specifications and analytical methods for various medicinal plants. In effect, his joining our advisory board formalises an already existing long-term relationship between USP and ABC.'
At USP, Dr Giancaspro oversees staff that provides support to Expert Committees responsible for setting USP’s standards for dietary supplements, herbal medicines and food ingredients. Previously, he was the Director for Dietary Supplements in the Documentary Standards Division at USP responsible for the development of monographs and general chapters for botanical and non-botanical dietary supplements, safety evaluations, performance standards, and the publication of the USP Dietary Supplements Compendium.
Before joining USP, Dr Giancaspro's teaching and research experience included medicinal chemistry, drug analysis and drug stability at the Pharmacy School at the University of Buenos Aires. He also has extensive industrial experience as the former Technical Director of Rigecin, Schwabe-Argentina and Kampel-Martian, in charge of Regulatory Affairs, Analytical Research and Development, and Quality Control of parenterals, herbal medicines and oncological medicines.
Dr Giancaspro holds a Pharmacist degree and a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences (medicinal chemistry) from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.