Profiling 'centres of excellence' in CAM research.

Area of Science:

• Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research
• Medical Research Centers
• Scientific Productivity Analysis

Background:

• The emergence of specialized research centers in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) necessitates an evaluation of their productivity.
• Profiling these centers helps understand the landscape of CAM research output and identify areas for growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile the most productive research centers in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) based on publication output.
• To evaluate the characteristics and research output of leading CAM research groups between 1995 and 2001.

Main Methods:

• Medline database searches were conducted using keywords related to individuals directing CAM research groups.
• Publication records from 1995 to 2001 were analyzed for eight highly productive researchers (all male) who had published over 20 articles.
• The output, including clinical trials, surveys, and systematic reviews, was assessed for these selected centers.

Main Results:

• Eight leading CAM research centers were identified, with five based in the US and UK.
• Collectively, these centers produced 32 clinical trials, 32 surveys, and 95 systematic reviews during the study period.
• The research scope for most centers was narrow, and clinical trial output was limited, suggesting potential funding difficulties.

Conclusions:

• Several well-established and active research centers in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) exist.
• The productivity of these centers varies, with significant room for improvement in overall output.
• The scarcity of clinical trials in CAM research is likely attributable to funding challenges.