About OCCAM
The Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM) was established in October 1998 to coordinate and enhance the activities of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with regard to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
To order a copy of this brochure, please call, 1-800-4-CANCER. |
The OCCAM is administratively under the Office of the Director within the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis.
OCCAM’s Mission:
To improve the quality of care of cancer patients, as well as those at risk for cancer and those recovering from cancer treatment, by contributing to the advancement of evidence-based CAM practice and the sciences that support it as well as the availability of high-quality information for the health care community, researchers, and the general public.
OCCAM focuses on the following three program areas:
Research Development and Support Program (RDSP)
The Research Development and Support Program was created to help investigators identify funding opportunities and provide assistance to applicants. The RDSP staff work to stimulate research in cancer CAM as it relates to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, cancer-related symptoms and side effects of conventional treatment. The RDSP also designs activities to support the development of the science.
Practice Assessment Program (PAP)
The PAP performs reviews of retrospective and prospective data on cancer patients treated with unconventional therapies. The NCI Best Case Series Program reviews data from CAM practitioners who have used alternative and/or complementary medical approaches to treat cancer patients. This program allows practitioners to share their successes and have them evaluated by experts in both conventional and alternative medicine. NCI evaluates these cases to inform decisions about future NCI-initiated research in these interventions.
Communications and Outreach Program (COP)
The communications program focuses on disseminating information about NCI program initiatives, funding opportunities, clinical trials, and educational materials via the OCCAM website. Additional projects include assessing the opinions and interests of cancer researchers, CAM practitioners, and cancer patients regarding CAM research and outreaching to the cancer patient community regarding cancer CAM issues. In addition, this program assists in providing a dialogue with health practitioners and researchers regarding CAM cancer issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to contact the OCCAM
Note: The OCCAM is not an information clearinghouse and does not have any materials for public distribution other than those that can be viewed on this web site. Other offices at the NCI and NIH, identified on the pages of this web site, are equipped to help with your health information needs.
OCCAM Staff List
|
