Policy on complementary and alternative medicine
The Wellcome Trust (the 'Trust') is an independent, medical research-funding charity, established under the will of Sir Henry Wellcome and funded from a private endowment, which is managed with long-term stability and growth in mind. Its mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. The Wellcome Trust supports more than 3500 researchers in 44 countries. In addition, as well as funding major initiatives aimed to engage with the public through informed dialogue, the Wellcome Trust is the country's leading supporter of research into the history of medicine.
The Wellcome Trust is aware of the limited research capacity within the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which the House of Lords inquiry addressed1. The Wellcome Trust has funded a range of research projects within the History of Medicine Programme, including studies on:
- the introduction of chiropractic techniques in the UK 1930-65
- sense and sensuality in Early China; a re-examination of the origins of acupuncture.
The Science Funding grants have also included studies on:
- hypnotherapy in non-ulcer dyspepsia and its effect on symptoms, quality of life, economic factors and physiology
- the evaluation of the effects of low dose (ultramolecular) homeopathy using the proving of Belladonna C30 as a model.
On 10 March 2000, the Trust hosted a workshop exploring the issues facing CAM research. The aim of the workshop was to inform future Trust policy and to stimulate discussion amongst CAM practitioners, researchers and policy makers. The participants comprised an international audience (85 people) and speakers from Australia, Europe, China, India, USA, Canada and the UK. CAM and orthodox practitioners, covering a wide spectrum of therapies and organisations, were represented.
It was established at the workshop that the majority of CAM practitioners have a number of constraints that make it difficult for them to pursue a research career. Many CAM practitioners do not have time to undertake research, due to the demands of running a practice. Furthermore, there are currently few career development opportunities in CAM research; more would be needed to attract people into the field.
A number of recommendations were made at the workshop, addressing ways in which research capacity could be increased in the UK:
- greater collaboration between clinical researchers and CAM practitioners is needed in order to transfer research skills and scientific methods
- capacity building would be enhanced by the establishment of an overarching body with the function of coordinating research strategy and activities
- training in research methods should be incorporated into the training and education of CAM practitioners.
The Wellcome Trust policy on funding research in complementary and alternative medicine
1. The mission of the Wellcome Trust is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health.
2. The Trust believes that it is becoming increasingly important that the therapies used in complementary and alternative medicine are properly assessed both for the benefit and the protection of the public. In particular, questions of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness need to be addressed. Wellcome Trust-funded research can play an important role in the understanding of mechanisms underlying therapies.
3. The Trust will fund applications in CAM of high scientific quality that fulfil its eligibility criteria. Our current view is that existing Trust funding mechanisms are adequate to assess CAM proposals. However, applications have to compete with other biomedical research proposals for funding through the normal channels. Thus, to avoid bias, our scientific officers go to great lengths to select referees with the necessary expertise to peer review proposals.
4. The Trust's History of Medicine Programme offers opportunities to explore the development and understanding of CAM therapies by exploring the cultural, social and economic contexts of these areas.
