Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 162
Informally the need to develop complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research networks has been identified repeatedly by participants in workshops, planning groups and round-table discussions organised or supported by Health Canada. A systematic review of 13 workshop, planning and round-table discussion reports resulted in the identification of four themes: (1) the need for networking, (2) its purpose, (3) forms of networking and (4) the role of Health Canada with respect to networking. The objective of this presentation is to describe the opportunities and challenges of CAM research network development in Canada.
We have been involved in the development of three different CAM research networks. Team members and leaders were (and will continue to be) interviewed to review the process of establishing these networks focusing on the strengths, challenges and opportunities.
The Complementary Therapies and Cancer team was developed in 1998 and is funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada. It is limited by its focus on cancer. The Toronto CAM Research Network was established in 1999 and was the first truly interdisciplinary network. The Alberta CAM Research Network was established in 2002. The last two networks face many challenges including funding, sustainability, focus, scope of activities and member commitment.
The experiences in these networks will be crucial in establishing a national CAM network structure. We are now part of a planning group that is working to develop a feasible and sustainable national network.
