Ayurvedic Center for Collaborative Research

补充和替代医学（CAM）在美国的使用正在增加，数百万患有慢性病的美国人正在转向CAM治疗，这些治疗尚未通过西方科学标准的安全性和有效性验证。许多替代医疗系统，如阿育吠陀，这是在美国越来越受欢迎，起源于其他国家或传统。阿育吠陀是一个古老的，多方面的，整体的医疗系统来自印度。基于理解这种传统医疗体系的最佳方式是在其本土环境中进行研究的前提，本研究的广泛目标是在美国研究人员与印度科学家和从业者之间建立合作关系，以在印度建立一个CAM研究国际中心，研究阿育吠陀。我们已经确定印度哥印拜陀的阿育吠陀信托基金为合作和发展的拟议中心。具体目标是：1）发展和巩固阿育吠陀信托基金和美国之间的长期科学合作.研究人员;（2）评估现有的资源和阿育吠陀信托基金目前的需求，以进行符合当前NIH科学和监管标准的研究项目，并熟悉信托基金及其运作;（3）与阿育吠陀信托基金合作，完善试点研究的研究设计，为更彻底的调查奠定基础，并确定将在随后的国际补充和替代医学研究中心（ICRC）或其他申请中提出的研究议程;（4）启动一项计划，以满足阿育吠陀信托基金的需要，以促进成功和道德研究的进行，包括人员培训;（5）发展基础设施，以促进合作研究，包括发展核心设施：用于通信和监测临床试验的信息技术基础设施;阿育吠陀药物的质量保证和质量控制实验室;（6）启动一项试点研究，为后续红十字国际委员会申请或通过其他资助机制提出的更大规模临床试验奠定基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage in the U.S. is on the increase and millions of Americans suffering from chronic conditions are turning to CAM treatments, which have not been validated by Western scientific standards for safety and efficacy. Many alternative medical systems like Ayurveda, which are becoming popular in the U.S. have originated or are traditional in other countries. Ayurveda is an ancient, multifaceted, holistic medical system from India. Based on the premise that the optimal way to understand this traditional medical system is by conducting studies in its native setting, the broad goal of this research is to develop collaborative relationships among researchers from the U.S. and scientists and practitioners in India to develop an international center for CAM research in India to study Ayurveda. We have identified The Ayurvedic Trust in Coimbatore, India as the proposed center for collaboration and development. The specific aims are to: 1) Develop and consolidate long-term scientific collaborations between the Ayurvedic Trust and U.S. researchers; (2) Assess the available resources and the current needs for the Ayurvedic Trust to conduct research projects that meet current NIH scientific and regulatory standards, and gain familiarity with the Trust and its operations; (3) Refine the research design for a pilot study to form the basis of more thorough investigations in collaboration with the Ayurvedic Trust, and define the research agenda to be proposed in the subsequent International Centers for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICRC) or other applications; (4) Initiate a plan to address the needs of the Ayurvedic Trust to facilitate the conduct of successful and ethical research, including training of personnel; (5) Develop the infrastructure to facilitate collaborative research, including developing core facilities for: 1. Information Technology Infrastructure for communications and monitoring clinical trials, and 2. Quality Assurance and Quality Control laboratory for the Ayurvedic medications; (6) Initiate a pilot study to form the basis of larger clinical trials to be proposed in the subsequent ICRC application or through other grant mechanisms.