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Research Studies
Current Research Studies
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.
Effectiveness of Two Levels of Pulse Consumption on Caloric Restriction Adherence and Chronic Disease Risk, Pulse Canada Innovation Project
Principal Investigator: Megan McCrory
Project Period: September 1, 2006 - March 31, 2008
Pulses (dried beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas) are example foods that are high in fiber, complex carbohydrates and protein, and low in caloric density. They may aid in weight loss and help prevent regain. This proposal will test whether regular pulse consumption can assist with weight loss and its maintenance, as well as promote improvement in risk for chronic disease using a randomized controlled study design.
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.
Pilot Trial of Chromium-Metformin Combination in Type 2 Diabetes: Impact on Blood Sugar Control and Insulin Resistance
Principal Investigator: R Bradley
Project Period: January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006
Limited research has supported the potential of chromium to be beneficial in diabetes to improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity. Metformin is the most commonly prescribed oral medication for diabetes in the world. This pilot study will gather preliminary data on the combination of chromium picolinate and metformin, including safety and size of effect to direct future, larger studies. The trial will recruit 40 type 2 diabetes subjects already on metformin from the greater Seattle/King County area and treat them with chromium for 12 weeks.
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 - August 2007
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.
Trametes versicolor-inducted Immunopotentiation
Principal Investigator: CA Wenner
Project Period: October 2005 - August 2007
This diversity supplement project is designed to provide research training to Lisa Price ND, under mentorship of Cynthia Wenner. Dr. Price is studying the modulatory effects of Trametes versicolor on T helper 1 and T helper 2 phenotypic expression in healthy individuals as a substudy that is integral to the first aim of the parent Project 2 that is part of the Developmental Center for Research on CAM.
Eating Patterns and Metabolism Study
Principal Investigator: M McCrory
Project Period: 2004 – 2007
This clinical study is looking at the effects of foods and nutrients on metabolism and eating patterns.
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 - August 2007
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.
Menopause Effects on Obesity, Energy Balance & Insulin (Pennington Biomedical Research Center collaboration, Bastyr subcontractor)
Principal Investigator: S Smith (Pennington), Co-Investigator: J Lovejoy
Project Period: September 2003 - 2007
This observational study examines changes in body composition, energy intake and physical activity in a cohort of 160 perimenopausal women. Annual assessments will be conducted for 7 years to determine the impact of changing reproductive hormone concentrations on body fatness, fat distribution, energy balance and insulin resistance.
Integrating CAM: Nursing Emphasis (UW collaboration, Bastyr subcontractor)
Principal Investigator: M Heitkemper, Co-Investigator: T Callahan
Project Period: July 15, 2002 - April 30, 2007
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.
Controlled Trial of an Herbal Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Principal Investigator: W Weber
Project Period: April 1, 2002 - March 31, 2007
A two-year study of 58 participants is planned. This study will test to see if there are benefits for juveniles (6-17) who take the herbal treatment to treat ADHD. Each participant and a parent or guardian will have study visits over a 9-week period. The safety of this herbal treatment will also be examined by tracking adverse events experienced by participants.
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.
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