Current Research

PO1 Center of Excellence for Research on Arthritis and Traditional Chinese MedicineA Program Project grant involving 3 synergistic studies examining the efficacy and mechanisms of action of traditional Chinese medicine approaches for arthritis.
See abstract. 

PI: Brian M Berman, MD

Co-PI: Lixing Lao, PhD, LAc

NIH/NCCAM

9/2005 – 8/2010

PO1 I:  
The objective of this study is to find an optimally effective, safe, and tolerable dosage of an 11-herb extract of Huo-Luo-Xiao-Ling (HLXL)
Dan, a traditional Chinese herbal compound, as adjunctive treatment in patients diagnosed with
osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.
See abstract. 

 PI: Brian M Berman, MD

 NIH/NCCAM

PO1 II: 
The objective of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic effect of electro-acupuncture, in particular in relation to the hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis. 
See abstract. 

PI: Lixing Lao, PhD, LAc

Co-PI: Ke Ren, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

PO1 III: 
The purpose of this study is to examine the immunologic basis of anti-arthritic activity of the Chinese herbal compound being used in Project 1.
See abstract.  

PI:  Kamal Moudgil, MD, PhD

Co-PI: David Lee, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

PO1 Administrative Core:
This core is to coordinate and support all the Center’s projects and cores.

PI: Brian Berman, MD

Co-PI:Barry Handwerger, MD

NIH/NCCAM

PO1 Botanical Core:
The major goal of this core is to provide standardized, quality assured herbal extracts of HLXL for use in animal (Project 3) and clinical (Project 1) studies.

PI: David Lee, PhD

Co-PI: Harry Fong

NIH/NCCAM

PO1 Data Management and Statistical Analysis Core:
This core is to provide support for all the data management, study monitoring, study design and statistical analysis for the projects in the Center.

PI: Kevin Chen, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

U19 International Center for Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine for Functional Bowel DisordersThe purpose of the center is to continue development of a sustainable international research collaboration that will contribute to the preservation of knowledge and implementation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Hong Kong, China and the USA, and to assess unique characteristics of TCM that can contribute to global health.  The grant involves 3 synergistic studies.
See abstract. 

PI:Francis Chen, PhD 

NIH/NCCAM

9/2005 – 9/2009

U19: Project 1: 
This study will use animal models to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture on behavioral and visceral responses to pain and colonic, spinal, and central serotonergic systems in irritable bowel syndrome.
See abstract. 

PI: Justin Wu, MD

Co-PI: Lixing Lao, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

U19: Project 2: 
This study will evaluate the safety, adverse effects, and potential toxicity of a TCM herbal preparation and establish the biological potency of a Chinese herbal formula for irritable bowel syndrome, in animals models of irritable bowel syndrome.
See abstract. 

PI: C-T. Che, PhD

Co-PI: Lixing Lao, PhD, LAc

NIH/NCCAM

U19: Project 3: 
A phase II, randomized clinical trial evaluating the safety and dose-response profile of the TCM herbal formulation used in Project 2 among patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
See abstract. 

PI: W-K. Leung, MD

Co-PI:Elizabeth Pradhan, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

U19 Administrative Core:
This core is to facilitate communication between the Hong Kong and US-based investigator and coordinate the program and provide an atmosphere to enhance further research efforts.

PI (USA):Brian Berman, MD

PI (Hong Kong):Joseph Sung, MD

NIH/NCCAM

U19 Botanical Core:
This core is responsible for authentication, standardization, and quality control of herbal materials.

PI: C-T. Che, PhD

Co-PI: Harry Fong, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

U19 Data Management and Statistical Analysis Core:
This core is to provide support for study design, conduct, and statistical analyses.

PI: Kevin Chen, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

Acupuncture for Patients Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization:A randomized, sham controlled pilot study to examine the effect of acupuncture on clinical in vitro fertilization outcomes.
See abstract. 

PI: Grant Zhang, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

9/2005 – 8/2008

AMWELL (Acupuncture and Meditation for Wellness):A randomized, controlled, pilot study to assess the benefit of mindfulness meditation and acupuncture in relieving psychological symptoms of female, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

PI: Elizabeth Pradhan, PhD

The Mental Insight Foundation

6/2007 – 6/2008

Qigong Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knees:R21 A dual-blinded randomized trial with placebo control to investigate the clinical effectiveness of external Qi therapy for pain relief and symptom improvement in patients with OA of the knees.
See abstract. 

 NIH/NCCAM

 9/2004 – 8/2007

Qigong Therapy for Treating Cocaine Addiction:R21 A randomized, placebo controlled trial to investigate the clinical effectiveness of external Qi therapy for reducing cue-elicited craving and improving recovery of cocaine addiction.
See abstract. 

PI: David Smelson PsyD

Co-PI: Kevin Chen, PhD

Contact:Christine Berger,
410-448-6448

 NIH/NCCAM

 6/2005 – 5/2008

Integrative Self-Empowerment Therapy (ISET) for Cocaine Addiction:
A pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of ISET, which is comprised of auricular acupressure and integrative meditation, in reducing craving, increasing treatment retention, and improving treatment outcomes among cocaine addicts enrolled in an outpatient, addiction treatment program.
See abstract.  

Lucy R. Waletzky, MD

3/2007– 4/2008

Work-site Evaluation of Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain:A randomized trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for lower back pain at the work place.
See abstract. 

The Ford Foundation

1/2006 – 6/20/08

Mindfulness Meditation for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse:The purpose of the study is to collect preliminary data on the effect of mindfulness meditation on healing the psychological distress of adult survivors of child sexual abuse.  The study also will investigate the effect of the intervention on blood measures of inflammation.
See abstract. 

PI: Elizabeth Pradhan, PhD

Contact: Laura Benzel,
410-448-6590

The Mental Insight Foundation

1/2007 – 1/2008

Complete

R13 The Status and Future of Acupuncture Research:10 years post-NIH Consensus Conference.  Visit the
Conference Website for additional information.

PI: Lixing Lao,  PhD, LAc

Co-I: Brian Berman, MD

Contact: Laura Benzel,
410-448-6590

NIH/NCCAM, ORD, OCCAM,ORWH,NIAAA, NIAMS.

5/1/07 – 4/30/08

Co-I:  Lixing Lao, PhD, LAc

Co-I:  Tan Ming, PhD

NIH/NCCAM

2/2008/-1/2010

 BraveNet Research SurveryThe purpose of this study is to help us describe the patients seeking care at Integrative Medicine centers. This includes demographics, reason for the visit, health conditions, type of care sought, and expectations for treatment; quality of life, mood, stress; and lifestyle factors. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Osteoarthritis of the Knee (TCM-OAK)The study will look at the effect of the herbal formulation Huo-Luo-Xiao-Ling Dan, or HXLX, in decreasing the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.

PI: Brian Berman, MD

NIH/NCCAM

-6/2010

Recruiting

R21: Effects of acupuncture on pain-induced affective responseThe objective of this study is to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture on pain-induced affective behavior in a rat model.
See Abstract