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U.S. National Institutes of Health
Cancer Diagnosis Program Cancer Imaging Program Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program Developmental Therapeutics Program Radiation Research Program Translational Research Program Biometric Research Branch Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Last Updated: 04/25/2012

About the Office Director

Jeffrey White

Jeffrey D. White, M.D., joined NCI in 1990 as a Medical Staff Fellow in the Metabolism Branch where he performed laboratory research in immunology and molecular biology. More…

INTRODUCTION

The Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM) was established in October 1998 to coordinate the activities of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with regard to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Mission

To improve the quality of care of cancer patients, as well as those at risk for cancer and those recovering from cancer treatment, by contributing to the advancement of evidence-based CAM practice and the sciences that support it as well as the availability of high-quality information for the health care community, researchers, and general public.

Role within NCI

  • Encourages collaborations between cancer researchers and CAM practitioners through lectures, conferences, and workshops
  • Identifies gaps in existing cancer CAM research and creates funding opportunities to increase the number of high quality studies on this topic
  • Provides expert review of CAM content on behalf of NCI for Institute-supported projects and programs

Research Priorities

  • Identifying novel therapeutics in the pharmacopeia of traditional medical systems as defined by the World Health Organization
  • Using complementary approaches to improve the therapeutic ratio of standard and investigational anti-cancer therapies
  • Research on lifestyle modifications (e.g. diet, exercise, mind-body approaches) for their impact on cancer outcomes (e.g. response to conventional cancer therapy, survival)