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• Where do I start?
• How does NCCAM prioritize its research?
• What types of research projects does NCCAM fund?
• What types of research training does NCCAM fund?
• Who is eligible for NCCAM funding?
• Whom can I contact with specific questions?

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is 1 of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Like all institutes and centers at NIH, NCCAM supports research projects and research training through the grant application process. Specifically, we fund:

• Scientific research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
• Training for facilitating and conducting CAM research

Where do I start?

Research

Please visit nccam.nih.gov/research for:

• An applicant checklist for new researchers
• Current funding opportunities
• Details about our priorities and application process, including grantwriting tips and sample applications
• Contact information for our Program Officers

Training

For training opportunities, see nccam.nih.gov/training.

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How does NCCAM prioritize its research?

We prioritize our research through a formal planning process that draws on:

• Our strategic plan Expanding Horizons of Health Care
• An analysis of our existing grants portfolio
• The expertise of our extramural program staff
• Extensive interactions with experts at other NIH institutes and centers
• Recommendations of our principal advisory body, the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as well as numerous other expert panels and stakeholders

We regularly reexamine and redefine our research priorities to fill gaps in our portfolio and to capitalize on emerging opportunities that can advance CAM research. Visit our Web site for details and current priorities.

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What types of research projects does NCCAM fund?

Our strategic plan for 2005 to 2009 calls for us to substantially increase funding of basic and preclinical studies. We encourage applications for projects that aim to determine the mechanisms of action of CAM modalities.

NCCAM funds both:

• Investigator-initiated research
• Projects developed in response to specific solicitations

We also set aside funding specifically for small businesses.

Examples of Currently Funded Research NCCAM supports a broad array of basic, preclinical, and clinical research related to various health conditions and CAM modalities. A few examples include: Randomized study of tai chi in the management of chronic heart failure Randomized study of the impact of massage therapy on immune recovery in children with HIV Analysis of U.S. health surveys to examine CAM use among racial and ethnic minorities Exploratory study of the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on rheumatoid arthritis symptoms Study of the neurochemical mechanisms in the placebo response Study to measure the effects of Reiki on stress-induced intestinal damage using an animal model Research center grant to support basic and clinical research on botanicals for age-related diseases Research center on the neurobiology of acupuncture Developmental center on chiropractic manipulation

Investigator-Initiated Research/R01s

A common funding mechanism for investigator-initiated research is the R01 grant. This type of grant supports a discrete project by an investigator. R01 applications follow the NIH-wide guidelines provided in the SF424 electronic grant application instructions. Descriptions of other funding mechanisms for research projects can be found on our Web site.

Solicitations/RFAs, RFPs, and PAs

We also solicit applications for research projects and research center grants and contracts through:

• Requests for applications (RFAs)
• Requests for proposals (RFPs)
• Program announcements (PAs)

Visit the Research section of our Web site for active RFAs, RFPs, and PAs (the link appears under "Funding Opportunities").

Small Business Opportunities/SBIR and STTR Programs

We provide funding opportunities to small business concerns through our:

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program
• Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program

Innovation and the potential for commercialization are among the important factors in the review criteria used to evaluate SBIR and STTR applications.

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What types of research training does NCCAM fund?

We are committed to providing funding for high-quality research training and career development opportunities, with the aim of increasing the number, quality, and diversity of CAM researchers. NCCAM has steadily increased funding for both research training and career development.

We provide funds to assist:

• Pre- and postdoctoral students interested in pursuing a CAM research career
• CAM practitioners, so they may gain knowledge and experience in specific CAM research areas
• Conventional medical researchers and practitioners, so they may increase their knowledge and experience in specific CAM research areas
• Members of populations who are underrepresented in scientific research and interested in careers in CAM

Training awards include:

• Individual fellowships
• Career development and transition awards, which may include mentored research training for CAM practitioners
• Funding through the NIH Loan Repayment Program for doctoral-level researchers who seek to exchange 2 or 3 years of research service for the repayment of educational debt

Applications for research training awards are usually solicited through program announcements on our Web site.

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Who is eligible for NCCAM funding?

Individuals and organizations based inside or outside the United States may be eligible to apply for research funding. They must be able to comply with all relevant NIH and NCCAM requirements and policies.

Individuals

We provide funds to assist scientists at all stages of their careers in the biomedical and behavioral sciences--both CAM and conventional--from pre- and postdoctoral to midcareer. Supplemental research and training grants are available to current individual NCCAM grantees who:

• Are reentering a career in science
• Have a disability
• Are members of an underrepresented minority group

Organizations

Prospective grantees include for-profit, nonprofit, public, and private institutions.

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Whom can I contact with specific questions?

If you have questions, NCCAM staff is available and eager to help. For questions about:

• A specific announcement, contact the NCCAM staff member listed in the "Agency Contacts" section of the announcement
• NCCAM-supported research or the NCCAM application process, contact the NCCAM Division of Extramural Research staff member to find a list of NCCAM Program Officers and their contact information.
• NCCAM-supported international research or collaborative research with significant international components, contact NCCAM's Office of International Health Research.
• CAM or NCCAM in general, contact the NCCAM Clearinghouse toll-free at 1-888-644-6226 (301-519-3153 from outside the U.S.) or at info@nccam.nih.gov

Please visit nccam.nih.gov/research nccam.nih.gov/training

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This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.

National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NCCAM Publication No. D024
Updated December 2006

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