Effects of Qigong, Tai Chi and Yoga Practice on Indicators of Health and Quality of Life in Older Adults
Funded by Gencare Incorporated
Principal Investigator: Wendy Weber
Project Period: April 2008 – March 2013
This study will be conducted at Gencare Incorporated resident facilities in the Pacific Northwest looking at the effects of different activities on the quality of life in seniors.
Will a Naturopathic Diet Improve Glycemic Management?
Principal Investigator: EB Oberg
Project Period: January 2008 – December 2009
This pilot trial tests the feasibility and effectiveness of the naturopathic diet as it compares to standard conventional dietary education. Preliminary data will be used to determine if a naturopathic diet improves glycemic control, quality of life, and nutritional knowledge outcomes.
Mechanisms of Immunomodulatory and Anti-tumor Actions of Polysaccharide Krestin
Principal Investigator: Mary Disis (UW), Co-Investigator: CA Wenner
Project Period: September 2007 – August 2011
Mushroom extracts have long been used in Asia as immunopotentiating agents. Previous studies have shown that ingestion of mushroom extracts can cause tumors to shrink or stop progressing in animal models of cancer and in cancer patients. However, how these agents induce anti-tumor effects is unknown. The proposed study will use the neutransgenic (neu-tg) mouse, a model of breast cancer, to study the effects of protein-bound polysaccharide Krestin (PSK), an extract from the woody mushroom Trametes versicolor, on anti-tumor immune responses. The goal of this study is to determine in the neu-tg model whether PSK induces an anti-tumor immune response, thus reversing immune suppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment.
Echinacea for Preventing Colds in Children, Subcontract with Child Health Institute
Principal Investigator: James Taylor (UW), Co-Investigator: Wendy Weber
Project Period: April 1, 2006 - September 30, 2009
An unexpected result of an earlier randomized controlled trial was that patients receiving Echinacea had fewer subsequent upper respiratory infections (URIs) during the 4-month study period than children who received placebo for treatment of acute symptoms. This study is designed to further delineate the potential efficacy of Echinacea in preventing URIs in children.
Graduate Certificate in CAM: An Integrative Approach
Principal Investigator: Sandra Motzer (UW), Co-Investigator: Timothy C. Callahan
Project Period: November 1, 2006 - June 30, 2009
This grant will provide advanced practice nurses, graduate nursing students, and other health professionals opportunities to expand their understanding of complementary and alternative practices all within the context of culturally competent and cost effective care, ultimately, improving patient care.
Naturopathic Physician Research Education Project
Principal Investigator: Gannady Raskin
Project Period: August 15, 2006 - July 31, 2010
The specific aims of this resubmission are to: (1) educate naturopathic medical students how to use an evidence-based approach to evaluate biomedical research literature and to apply this information in their clinical decision-making in practice; (2) Promote an evidence-based research culture among the faculty of Bastyr University’s School of Naturopathic Medicine; and (3) to increase research collaborations between Bastyr University and the University of Washington faculty.
Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast Cancer
Principal Investigator: L.J. Standish
Project Period: February 2005 - 2007
This is a Phase II randomized-placebo controlled trial of a mushroom extract (Trametes versicolor or Tv) in women with early-stage estrogen receptor-negative and progesterone receptor-negative breast cancer who have completed adjuvant radiation therapy. The primary study endpoint is immune recovery as measured by changes in natural killer cell activity. The secondary endpoints include phagocytic activity, cytokine levels (TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma), and self-reported quality of life/fatigue scores using previously validated instruments. This data will help the investigators to determine if Tv extract has promise as an immune therapy, and/or whether it might be helpful to fight fatigue in women after they finish conventional breast cancer treatment.
Trametes versicolor-induced Immunopotentiation - Developmental Center for Research on CAM (University of Minnesota collaboration, Bastyr subcontractor)
Principal Investigator: J Slaton (U of MN), Co-investigator: CA Wenner
Project Period: September 2004 - March 2008
The objectives of this developmental center grant are 1) developing basic, translational, and clinical research to explore the feasibility and scientific rationale for use of mushroom extracts as immunopotentiating agents; 2) facilitating the development of the capacity of investigators at Bastyr University to participate in basic and translational CAM research; 3) enhancing the capacity of investigators at the University of Minnesota to participate in translational and clinical CAM research. Three research projects are being conducted and are supported by three core facilities under this grant. Project one explores the immune modulatory effects of T. versicolor(Tv) extracts in a murine model (J. Slaton, PI). Project two is focused on defining the immune modulatory activities of distinct Tv preparations in vitro, as well as determining the ex vivo immunomodulatory activities of a commercially available Tv preparation in a placebo-controlled cross-over study in healthy humans (CA Wenner, PI). Project three is focused on determining the changes in immune parameters that occur in women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer, and determining the safety and tolerability of Tv in a Phase I dose-escalation trial in women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer.
A Randomized Trial of CAM at the End of Life (UW collaboration, Bastyr subcontractor)
Principal Investigator: B Lafferty (UW), Co-Investigator: L J Standish
Project Period: September 2003 - 2008
The objective is to improve the quality of patient dying and death by the use of integrative medicine using mind, body, and energy interventions to complement allopathic comfort care for persons with advanced cancer and AIDS. The effects of the study will be measured by the assessment of functional status, symptoms, and post-death evaluation of the quality of dying and death.
Integrating CAM: Nursing Emphasis (UW collaboration, Bastyr subcontractor)
Principal Investigator: M Heitkemper, Co-Investigator: T Callahan
Project Period: July 15, 2002 - April 2009
The primary purpose is to enhance the integration of information about CAM therapies into UW health sciences curricula, specifically the required undergraduate nursing didactic and clinical courses, and by increasing the nursing faculty’s understanding of CAM.
Training in Complementary and Alternative Medical Research
Principal Investigator: J Lovejoy
Project Period: March 1, 2002 – March 31, 2012
This program will train 8 post-doctoral fellows, each up to a period of three years, plus thirty pre-doctoral fellows in CAM research. 18 Bastyr and other local university faculty members are training post- and pre-doctoral fellows.
