Looking for Alternatives

doi:10.1126/science.290.5498.1871b

Account Information

Guest Alerts | Access Rights | My Account | Sign In

Site Navigation

Article Views

Summary

Article Tools

My Science

More Information

Related Jobs from ScienceCareers

Science 8 December 2000:
Vol. 290. no. 5498, p. 1871
DOI: 10.1126/science.290.5498.1871b

Prev | Table of Contents | Next

ScienceScope

British scientists should beef up their research on alternative medicine, according to a report issued last week by the House of Lords' Science and Technology Committee. Noting a dearth of high-quality research in alternative medicine, the committee urged the National Health Service and the Medical Research Council to develop a few "centres of excellence," following the path taken by the U.S. government's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The report added that the work should ultimately be guided by a clearinghouse that is partly funded by the government.

In a separate report, the Foundation for Integrated Medicine, an advocacy group headed by Prince Charles, offered to fill that role. It outlined a 5-year, $7 million plan to jump-start new research, support existing studies at medical schools, and fund 5-year fellowships to train medical students in research methods for alternative medicine. Right now, the field is "not particularly respectable as a research career," notes the foundation's Tricia Darnell. Increasing funding would make it "more mainstream," she says.

The foundation hopes for backing from the U.K. Department of Health but admits the agency has been "lukewarm" to the idea. Meanwhile, the foundation welcomes feedback (www.fimed.org) and is waiting for a government response to the House of Lords' report.