(TORONTO, November 30, 2004) - The Board of Directors of the Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada, the first national charitable organization dedicated to funding complementary and alternative medical research and education, today announced its launch.

Bringing together biomedical researchers, health professional organizations and experts in a variety of complementary and alternative therapies, the Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada has been established in response to the increased usage of complementary and alternative medicine among the Canadian public. Recent polls show that as many as 43 per cent of Canadians use some form of complementary and alternative therapy - ranging from clinical nutrition and herbal supplements to massage therapy and acupuncture - to supplement the conventional care they receive.

In an era of spiralling health care costs, increased waiting times for conventional treatment and an aging population faced with the onset of chronic illnesses, "Canadians are looking to manage their health and prevent or treat disease by exploring ways to enhance the body's innate ability to stay well," says Dr. Aileen Burford-Mason, board president, Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada. "But while there are some good studies available on certain complementary therapies, much more vital research needs to be done - independent, peer-reviewed research that is based on innovative science and a deep understanding of each therapy and how it is practised."

Mission
To address the call of the public, practitioners and policy makers for more and better research, and to fill the significant existing gap in funding, Holistic Health Research will work collaboratively to support and fund:

• High calibre, multidisciplinary, outcomes-based research in complementary therapies
• Public awareness and information activities regarding the safe and effective use of complementary therapies
• Education for health professionals about this emerging field
• Dialogue between complementary and conventional health professionals towards a common vision

In addition to funding research through its grant competitions, Holistic Health Research's role is to help consumers and health professionals sort through the available information to make more informed health care decisions.

"It can be very confusing for consumers, especially when the existing research on a particular complementary therapy is scant, hard to find or contradictory," says Keren Brown, executive director, Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada. "We will be acting as a conduit to credible, user-friendly information; providing an expert, independent voice to translate and interpret the practical meaning of emerging research; and engaging the public through creative educational and awareness-raising activities."

Launch Initiatives
To demonstrate the scope of its mission, the organization has announced three initial research projects, including the designation of funds towards two innovative studies, and a themed grant competition open to all eligible Canadian applicants, getting underway in 2005:

• A multidisciplinary team of investigators from the University of Calgary and University of Alberta will develop a protocol to study the safety and effectiveness of two multivitamin and mineral preparations - one at current RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) levels, and one at higher doses (Upper Limits) - on mood and immune function compared to placebo. This work builds on existing research suggesting that micronutrient supplementation at higher than RDA levels is beneficial for preventing "long latency deficiency diseases" such as heart disease, cancers, and osteoporosis.
• A pilot study, pairing an OB/GYN with a Registered Massage Therapist, will investigate the potential effects of massage therapy in reducing anxiety and pain and improving birth outcomes in high-risk pregnant women on complete bed rest in hospital.
• As well, a grant competition with the theme "Integrative Approaches to Cancer Prevention and Care" will consider a wide spectrum of projects, from clinical investigation of specific complementary treatments, to qualitative research about information and misinformation regarding complementary cancer therapies, to exploration of the mind-body connection in cancer outcomes.

This is a really exciting time for health care in Canada," says Brown. "Our long term vision is to contribute knowledge towards the creation of a new era in health care - a truly integrated health care system that blends the most effective and least invasive approaches from both complementary and conventional medicine, with an emphasis on prevention and optimizing health."

To accomplish its objectives, the Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada receives its funding from a broad base of donors and supporters, including individuals, private foundations, corporations and founding health partner organizations. Projected revenue goals are $3.5 million over the first five years of operation.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.HolisticHealthResearch.ca or call 416-778-4443/1-866-778-4443.
Media contact:
Keren Brown, Executive Director
416-778-4443 / 1-866-778-4443