With the support of $1.5 million in funding from the Blackmore Foundation, BioCeuticals and the Jacka Foundation, a scientific research program that aims to improve understanding of the ways health consumers and practitioners use naturopathy and other complementary medicines is to be expanded.
Funding will support two new research fellowships within the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM) at the University of Technology Sydney, led by Distinguished Professor of Public Health and Australian Research Council Professorial Future Fellow, Jon Adams.
One half of the $1.5 million donation will come from Marcus Blackmore’s personal philanthropic trust, the Blackmore Foundation. Mr Blackmore, who recently became the first Australian to be inducted into the US Natural Products Hall of Legends, said: “My commitment to naturopathy and natural-health therapies has been lifelong, as has my passion for research into complementary medicines and, in particular, naturopathy. Australia is regarded as a world leader in this research, largely due to the work of centres like ARCCIM. I look forward to seeing the results of this ongoing research.”
Complementary Medicines Australia CEO Carl Gibson said: “Given the potential benefits of complementary medicine as a tool towards health promotion and disease prevention, complementary-medicine research is a priority area for research funding.
“Chronic disease is responsible for 83 per cent of all premature deaths in Australia and 66 per cent of the burden of disease, making it the largest health challenge facing our nation … The need to place a stronger focus on preventative health is becoming increasingly important.”
