National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Strategic Plan
Kristen Sparrow • September 29, 2016
nccih_2016_strategic_plan The NCCIH has come out with a new report on their strategic plan going forward. In some ways it’s very encouraging and exciting since they are prioritizing conditions that I’ve been focusing on for years, pain, anxiety and depression. On the other hand it’s maddening since, though it’s no excuse for no results, I don’t have the capability of procuring grants or funds from the NCCIH since I’m in private practice. So it’s good news, in that it’s validating, but frustrating since I feel I have something to contribute, but am stymied by my career path.
No matter! The project is fascinating enough in its own right, whether self funded, uncontrolled or not. So onward!
This plan outlines NCCIH’s strategic direction in complementary and integrative health research. It identifies five core objectives and presents a detailed assessment of opportunities and gaps in the Center’s current top priority areas.
The new strategic plan was developed during an 18-month planning process, with input from NCCIH staff, stakeholders, and scientific advisors, as well as guidance from the broader National Institutes of Health strategic plan.
A Message From the Director
Introduction
- The Use and Cost of Complementary Health Approaches in the United States
- Symptoms Matter—Leading Causes of Disability
- Use of Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches in the United States, 2012
Objective 1: Advance Fundamental Science and Methods Development
- Advance understanding of basic biological mechanisms of action of natural products, including prebiotics and probiotics.
- Advance understanding of the mechanisms through which mind and body approaches affect health, resiliency, and well-being.
- Develop new and improved research methods and tools for conducting rigorous studies of complementary health approaches and their integration into health care.
Objective 2: Improve Care for Hard-to-Manage Symptoms
- Develop and improve complementary health approaches and integrative treatment strategies for managing symptoms such as pain, anxiety, and depression.
- Conduct studies in “real world” clinical settings to test the safety and efficacy of complementary health approaches, including their integration into health care.
Objective 3: Foster Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Investigate mechanisms of action of complementary and integrative health approaches in health resilience and practices that improve health and prevent disease.
- Study complementary health approaches to promote health and wellness across the lifespan in diverse populations.
- Explore research opportunities to study and assess the safety and efficacy of complementary health approaches in nonclinical settings such as communityand employer-based wellness programs.
Objective 4: Enhance the Complementary and Integrative Health Research Workforce
- Support research training and career development opportunities to increase the number and quality of scientists trained to conduct rigorous, cutting-edge research on complementary and integrative health practices.
- Foster interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships.
Objective 5: Disseminate Objective Evidence-based Information on Complementary and Integrative Health Interventions
- Disseminate evidence-based information on complementary and integrative health approaches.
- Develop methods and approaches to enhance public understanding of basic scientific concepts and biomedical research.
Top Scientific Priorities
- Nonpharmacologic Management of Pain
- Neurobiological Effects and Mechanisms
- Innovative Approaches for Establishing Biological Signatures of Natural Products
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Across the Lifespan
- Clinical Trials Utilizing Innovative Study Designs To Assess Complementary Health Approaches and Their Integration Into Health Care
- Communications Strategies and Tools To Enhance Scientific Literacy and Understanding of Clinical Research
