Theme

The 8th annual International Congress of Complementary Medicine Research - ICCMR 2013 - will focus on the global sustainability of healthcare for long term conditions such as diabetes, chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, psychological problems, neurodegenerative conditions and arthritis. Long term conditions are the major cause of mortality among adults in almost all countries; between 35 and 58 million deaths annually worldwide are due to these illnesses and their complications. In addition:

• 80% of medical consultations in industrialised countries are for long term conditions
• The spiralling cost of healthcare – particularly in developed economies – is a matter of pressing concern as economic growth continues to flat-line
• Conventional medicine has been extremely successful in many acute situations but sufferers of long term conditions often take multiple drugs and have a high prevalence of iatrogenic illness
• The carbon footprint of the pharmaceutical industry is substantial and many of its products are targeted at long term conditions

The underexploited resources worldwide from within traditional/complementary/ integrated medicine may have the significant potential to address these issues. This agenda will seek to highlight and exploit effective treatments, sustainable in environmental and economic terms, and to mobilise all relevant medical resources and self-care approaches from diverse regions of the world.

The congress will promote discussion on the generalisability of self-care techniques such as yoga and Tai-chi. These traditional self-care methods will, with increasing research support, be relatively easy to generalise globally, despite their deep cultural roots in India and China.    
ICCMR 2013 will also consider the implications of the CAMbrella report and suggested European research and delivery strategy. This report is due for publication a few months before the conference and although mainly relevant for the EU, it will have worldwide implications

Congress objectives

• To debate, inform and create a global research strategy for long term conditions
• To examine the potential of these interventions for long term conditions, their limitations and how they might applied globally
• To develop focused agendas for specific disease groups, regions and therapies
• To showcase and present highest quality, cutting edge research 
• To broaden The International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR)  base by involving colleagues from countries with rich resources who have hitherto had little involvement in international research development 

Who should attend?

• Academic researchers into the efficacy and application of traditional, complementary and integrative therapies
• Practitioners of traditional, complementary and integrative therapies
• Mainstream medical researchers and practitioners
• Developers of healthcare policy
• A wide range of clinical academics including those from primary care, health service researchers and health economists
• Clinical students and trainees 

About the ISCMR

This congress marks the 10th anniversary of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR).  ISCMR is an international professional, multidisciplinary, non-profit scientific organization devoted to fostering Complementary and Integrative Medicine research.  It provides a platform for knowledge and information exchange to enhance international  communication and collaboration. ICCMR 2013 is an ISCMR event (www.iscmr.org)

Further information
For further information please contact Chris Hanney of Health Links at:
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Tel: + 44 (0) 116 274 7353