Media Advisory

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Harvard researcher to speak at NIH on the promise of traditional therapies

NCCAM presents “Promise for the Future in Yesterday’s Remedies: Traditional Therapies to Modern Medicine”

What: 

Vikas P. Sukhatme, M.D., Ph.D., the Victor J. Aresty Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Chief Academic Officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will be the featured speaker for the Second Annual Stephen E. Straus Distinguished Lecture in the Science of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Dr. Sukhatme’s lecture is entitled “Promise for the Future in Yesterday’s Remedies: Traditional Therapies to Modern Medicine.”

Why: 

Traditional medicines (or complementary therapies) have a long history of use and may offer viable options in addressing the symptoms of a variety of conditions. Among these traditional approaches is lifestyle manipulation—specifically dietary adjustments and stress reduction/control—that shows promise in treating certain forms of cancer. Though more research is needed, Dr. Sukhatme will discuss the importance and benefits of studying existing traditional therapies for application to medical conditions.

When: 

Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST

Where: 

National Institutes of Health, Building 10, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland. Lecture: Lipsett Amphitheater

More information: 

Details are available on NCCAM’s website at http://nccam.nih.gov. Sign language interpretation will be provided; for other reasonable accommodation call Karen Davison at 301-984-7191.

Who Should Attend: 

The event is free and open to the public.

Hosts: 

Presented by NCCAM and supported by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health with a generous gift from Bernard and Barbro Osher.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s mission is to explore complementary and alternative medical practices in the context of rigorous science, train CAM researchers, and disseminate authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM’s Clearinghouse toll free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the NCCAM Web site at http://nccam.nih.gov.

The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health was established by the United States Congress to support the mission of the National Institutes of Health—improving health through scientific discovery. The Foundation identifies and develops opportunities for innovative public-private partnerships involving industry, academia, and the philanthropic community. A nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation, the Foundation raises private-sector funds for a broad portfolio of unique programs that complement and enhance NIH priorities and activities. The Foundation’s web site is www.fnih.org.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

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