EU-Sino study spotlights traditional Chinese medicine
When they're feeling under the weather, Europeans work with what they are most familiar with: Western medicine. But what about the virtues of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)? An EU-funded team of researchers is working to inform the public about the safety and efficacy of TCM, which focuses on a tailor-made, holistic approach to treat patients. The GP-TCM ('Good practice in traditional Chinese medicine research in the post-genomic era') project is funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 995,100. Using a functional genomics approach via knowledge and skill exchange, the project partners are placing special emphasis on informing Europeans on the use of Chinese herbal medicines and acupuncture. The researchers from 13 EU Member States, Australia, Canada, China, Norway, Thailand and the US are assessing the current status of TCM, as well as identifying issues and providing answers on quality control, extraction and analysis of Chinese herbal medicines through 10 Work Packages that have been developed for the project. 'In contrast to the reductionist approach of Western medicine that is based on modern anatomy, cell and molecular biology, TCM uses a unique theory system and an individualised holistic approach to describe health and disease, based on the philosophy of Yin-Yang balance with an emphasis on harmony of functions,' explained GP-TCM project coordinator Dr Qihe Xu, a researcher at King's College London in the UK. 'These two medical systems disagree with each other in many situations since they observe health from their own limited perspective. GP-TCM aims to inform best practice and harmonise research of TCM in the EU using a functional genomics approach through exchange of opinions, experience and expertise among scientists, clinicians and pharmaceutical sector in the EU and China.' Dr Xu pointed out that as the 10 Work Packages address the fundamental issues that weigh on people's minds, the GP-TCM partners are diligently working on emphasising the use of functional genomics methodology in research on the safety, efficacy and mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicines and acupuncture. 'It will include the application of the technique in in silico modelling, cell-based models, animal models and clinical studies,' he said. 'Guidelines about good practice and agreed protocols in related research areas will be published to harmonise future TCM research in the EU and online tools and research resources will be made available to all EU Member States.' The consortium will publish guidelines about good practice and agreed protocols to help stimulate TCM research across the EU. In addition, Member States will also have access to online tools and research resources. Launched in 2009 and due to end in 2012, GP-TCM will create and maintain the European Society of Chinese Medicine Research, thus ensuring the guidance and coordination of EU-China cooperation in TCM research.For more information, please visit:GP-TCM:http://www.gp-tcm.org/King's College London:http://www.kcl.ac.uk/index.aspx
Countries
Australia, Canada, China, Norway, Thailand, United Kingdom