For Immediate Release:

New Local Nonprofit Takes on CAM Funding Imbalance

Fort Collins, CO - May 2, 2007 - According to NIH NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), two-thirds of Americans use some form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) each year. Yet a review of the budget data from NIH and NCCAM show CAM funding makes up only 1% of the NIH medical research dollars. This funding shortage is extreme! AlterMed Research Foundation, a new nonprofit formed in Ft. Collins last year, is working to address this disproportionate funding by directing more private charitable dollars toward quality CAM scientific research of human cancer and chronic illnesses in the areas where conventional medicine is ineffective.

Many CAM researchers at hospitals and universities will confirm that CAM funding dollars are difficult to obtain. Quoting from Dr. Edzard Ernest, a very well-known CAM professor in the United Kingdom, and an advisor to AlterMed, "both alleged alternative cures and complementary cancer care have one thing in common: they are woefully under-researched. While the pharmaceutical industry can afford to put billions into medical research, no such support exists for complementary medicine... [CAM] does not have the funds to attract bright young researchers. It is starved of the highly qualified career scientists who could speed its progress."

According to American Cancer Society, cancer accounts for 1 out of 4 deaths in the U.S (2007). According to the CDC, more than 90 million Americans live with chronic illnesses; and chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the U.S. Finding more proven medical options can benefit all human beings.

AlterMed is in the startup phase. Our immediate focus is to raise awareness of our mission: to promote more scientific research and education of CAM to manage, treat, and prevent chronic illness and cancer. Funds raised will be provided to university and hospital researchers to do quality CAM research. AlterMed plans to fund at least one research project by 2008 to address lung, colon, or pancreatic cancer via CAM and/or studies on meditation effects on pain patients via neuro-imaging.

Anyone interested in this cause can learn more by attending the upcoming AlterMed's fundraiser on June 1st, called Inspiration Rocks Gala, a double-feature, double the fun-draiser. It will be an inspiring evening at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center (Canyon West room). Entertainment will include: jazz music/singing/inspirational speech on "light burst" by Leonard Barrett (local popular actor), dinner, silent auction, and classic rock music by My Pet Fly. Semi-formal attire and dancing are encouraged. Tickets are $30, and can be purchased by calling (970)221-6730, Lincoln Center box office (417 W. Magnolia, Fort Collins), or via website http://www.lctix.com For more info about AlterMed or to publish an article about AlterMed, please contact Kerri at (970)221-9306 and/or check out https://www.altermedresearch.org

AlterMed Research Foundation
1342 Jayhawk Dr. Suite 200
Fort Collins, Colorado 80524