February 2004

NCCAM invites stakeholder input to strategic plans

Now is your opportunity to shape the policy and focus of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) for the next five years. NCCAM is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NCCAM is involving the public, researchers, healthcare professionals, its staff and others with an interest in research on CAM to provide input into its next five-year strategic plan. NCCAM was created five years ago.

In his announcement of the strategic plan process, Stephen E. Straus, MD, NCCAM director said, "Our research portfolio includes over 300 projects ranging from basic inquiries using powerful brain-imaging techniques to understand how acupuncture works to the largest ever placebo-controlled clinical trials of popular dietary supplements like glucosamine for degenerative arthritis and ginkgo biloba for dementia. Most importantly, a body of data is emerging from NCCAM's investments in research that is informing public policy and helping guide practices."

Interested stakeholders who want to become involved will be able to:

• Attend or speak at a Strategic Planning Stakeholder Forum. NCCAM will host two forums to give the public an opportunity to voice opinions regarding future directions for research, training, outreach, and integration in CAM. The forums will be held March 22 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and April 19 in Seattle, Washington. To learn more or to register to attend or speak, visit http://nccam.nih.gov/about/plans/2005/.

• Submit written testimony about NCCAM's future directions at http://nccam.nih.gov/about/plans/2005/.

• Comment on the draft strategic plan, which will be posted on the NCCAM Web site in the Fall.

"Maintaining an open and objective approach to CAM research and disseminating those research results to our stakeholders continue to be our primary goals," said Straus. "We are particularly interested in hearing our stakeholders' views regarding future directions for CAM research to aid us in making the most effective use of the resources that Americans have entrusted to us.

“NCCAM is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training CAM researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM's Clearinghouse toll free at 1-888-644-6226 or visit NCCAM's Web site at http://nccam.nih.gov .

Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), http://nccam.nih.gov

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