MNCAM, Minnesota Program in CAM Clinical Research   Sponsor     National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)   Program Director     Richard Grimm, MD, MPH, PhD, Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research   Co-Directors     Gert Bronfort, DC, PhD, Northwestern Health Sciences University Patricia Culliton, MA, Lac, Hennepin Faculty Associates Alternative Medicine Clinic Judith Garrard, PhD, Division of Health Services Research and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Russell Luepker, MD, MS Program in Clinical Research, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Mary Jo Kreitzer, RN, PhD, Center for Spirituality and Healing, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota   Administrative Director     Ramona Robinson-O'Brien, PhD, RD, Berman Center 612-347-5343   Description     This program fosters rigorous, high-quality, scientific research in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by providing experience and training in clinical research methods to promising practitioners and researchers at both the pre- and post-doctoral level.   Role of the Berman Center     The Berman Center provides all administrative support, including preparation of public relations materials, recruiting post-doctoral fellows and summer interns, hosting meetings of the Minnesota Consortium for CAM Clinical Research, coordinating seminars offered by both local and out-of-town speakers, and serving as the primary source of information about the Program.   Abstract     As increasing numbers of Americans avail themselves of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, the need grows for clinical research to evaluate their safety and efficacy. It has been difficult to meet this need because few medical practitioners in either allopathic or CAM modalities are specifically trained to conduct clinical research.     Faculty and researchers from six departments at three major, established health institutions in the Twin Cities metropolitan area have established the Minnesota Consortium for CAM Clinical Research to offer the Minnesota Program for CAM Clinical Research. The Program includes didactic curriculum in research methodology, with particular emphasis on applications in CAM. Completion of the didactic curriculum leads to an M.S. degree at the University of Minnesota either in Clinical Research or Health Services Research and Policy, both with a Graduate Minor in Complementary Therapies and Healing Practices. The Program also includes monthly symposia on topics relevant to CAM clinical research, plus an intensive summer program reviewing all aspects of the research process. Finally, the Program includes Trainee involvement in an on-going CAM clinical research project.