As part of its strategic planning process, NCCAM is seeking broad input from many communities, including researchers, health care providers, CAM providers, educators, and the public.

We are currently seeking comments on two white papers that address two critical areas of NCCAM’s research. Comments will be accepted through Monday, May 24, 2010

• Principles Guiding CAM Natural Product Research and Development
• Better Strategies for Management of Back Pain

An estimated 46 million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with arthritis, according to a national survey. Common symptoms include pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in or around the joints. Over time, a swollen joint can become severely damaged. Some kinds of arthritis can also cause problems in organs, such as the eyes or skin.

NCCAM supports studies on arthritis. Some people with arthritis may try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, including dietary supplements. If you are considering using CAM therapies, talk to your health care providers to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Clinical trial data indicate that supportive interactions with health care providers can benefit patients and may be especially helpful for people who tend to be reclusive (keep to themselves). In a trial funded in part by NCCAM and published in Social Science & Medicine, participants with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who received placebo (simulated) acupuncture had some improvement in symptoms, but those who also received support from the acupuncture practitioner experienced even greater improvement.

Witness appearing before the House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (April 28, 2010)

Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., Director
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:

I am pleased to present the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Budget request for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health. The FY 2011 budget includes $132,004,000, which is $3,213,000 more than the comparable FY 2010 appropriation of $128,791,000.

As a Lead Administrative Officer, you will serve as a key advisor to the senior staff. You will provide financial and budget management services by coordinating the continuous management of several Labs/Offices/Divisions and Branch budgets. You will coordinate personnel and position management services by managing associated activities, and protecting and ensuring confidentiality. You will participate in a cooperative effort to accomplish the goals of the Labs/Offices/Divisions, and the Center, by maintaining an ongoing and effective relationship with the supervisor and other NCCAM staff for the betterment of administrative systems and process. You will also manage acquisition activities and be responsible for planning, directing, and implementing the work of the Labs/Offices/Division’s purchasing. In addition, you will lead an administrative team, and ensure the organization’s strategic plan is integrated into the team’s strategies, goals, objectives, work plans, work products and services.

As a Program Analyst, you will design and implement systems and conduct analyses for OCRA-related tasks for project oversight and monitoring for the NCCAM clinical studies portfolio. You will develop reviews of research topics that are the focus of new applications considered for funding. You will develop scientific materials to be used as background and preparatory materials for conferences, workshops, and planning group meetings. You will provide assistance for information from other NCCAM and NIH offices and outside organizations and agencies. You will work with the Director, OCRA and Health Scientist Administrators (HSAs) in the oversight of clinical project applications, grants and contracts portfolios.

Recent research, supported in part by NCCAM, suggests that the herbs black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and red clover (Trifolium pretense) are no better than placebo in treating the hot flashes and night sweats that often accompany menopause. The findings were published in the journal Menopause.

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine tested the herbs in women experiencing at least 35 episodes of hot flashes and night sweats per week. Although conventional menopausal hormone therapy can effectively manage these symptoms, health concerns related to such care have increased interest in alternative treatments.

Recently, I hosted two meetings with groups that represent disparate views of CAM research. These meetings have given me a renewed appreciation for the value of listening to differing voices and perspectives about the work we do.

My NCCAM colleagues and I know there are differing views of the value of doing CAM research. On one side, we have stakeholders who are staunch CAM advocates, and on the other side, we have CAM skeptics.

Each group has its own beliefs and opinions on the direction, importance, and value of the work that NCCAM funds. The advocates would like to see more research dollars supporting various CAM approaches while the skeptics see our research investment as giving undue credibility to unfeasible CAM modalities and want less research funding.

Many people take dietary supplements in an effort to be well and stay healthy. With so many dietary supplements available and so many claims made about their health benefits, how can a consumer decide what’s safe and effective? This fact sheet provides a general overview of dietary supplements, discusses safety considerations, and suggests sources for additional information.

Previous research suggests that spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) may be helpful for various types of chronic headaches, including cervicogenic headache (CGH), which is associated with neck pain and dysfunction. In a recent randomized controlled trial, NCCAM-funded researchers from Western States Chiropractic College and other institutions evaluated the dose (number of treatments) and relative efficacy of SMT in a group of 80 patients with chronic CGH.