This month at the NIH research funding opportunities in complementary and alternative medicine

Abstract

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), established by Congress in 1998, is 1 of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH is 1 of 8 agencies under the Public Health Service (PHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (http://nccam.nih.gov). The mission of NCCAM is to support rigorous research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), to train researchers in CAM, and to disseminate information to the public and professionals on which CAM modalities work, which do not, and why. CAM use in the United States is high, with yearly use prevalence between 30% and 42% of adults in the United States, and expenditures associated with CAM therapies exceed non-reimbursed expenses incurred for all hospitalizations. Published surveys indicate that CAM use, including herbal and dietary supplements, probiotics, and other therapies, is high in patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases. Despite this broad use, there is insufficient scientific data on the safety and efficacy of CAM therapies. Currently, the 27 institutes and centers of NIH, including NCCAM, provide over $250 million annually in research support for CAM studies. A limited portfolio of research projects related to gastrointestinal and liver diseases is currently supported, such as studies of milk thistle (silymarin) for chronic hepatitis C infection. In order to encourage additional research in CAM therapies, NCCAM, and other NIH institutes have recently published 3 initiatives in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html). One initiative supports the development of centers for research in CAM: PAS-03-046 (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-046.html) using the U19 cooperative agreement mechanism. A second initiative supports the development of centers of excellence in CAM research using the PO1 (program project) mechanism: PAS-03-038 (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-03-038.html). The third initiative encourages submission of basic and preclinical research projects on CAM using the R01, R21, and R15 mechanisms: PA-02-124 (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-124.html). Interested investigators are encouraged to read the detailed descriptions of these research opportunities at the web sites listed above and to contact the staff of NCCAM.