Release Date: March 20, 2007
Albany, N.Y.--The Institute for Therapeutic Discovery has launched a long-term project to intentionally regulate the placebo response. A placebo response is often thought of as a faith-based response to a treatment modality that of itself has no proven therapeutic value. Whatever the form of belief, that agent triggers a cascade of biochemical or biophysical events that results in a desired clinical outcome even though the agent, itself, has no proven utility.
While there has been substantial research on whether or not the placebo response actually occurs, it is only a recent development that many in the medical community now regard it to be an influence beyond something simply to be measured in clinical trials. Stemming from Institutional Review Board (IRB) and FDA-authorized clinical trials, review of the literature, and discussions with medical professionals, Institute investigators have experience with the placebo response and regard it as real and powerful.
That the placebo response is without adverse side effects contributes, in part, to it representing the perfect medicine. Led by John McMichael, PhD, the Institute is therefore taking steps to further map this response in order to develop a therapy that induces it. As part of this project, in collaboration with the University of Maine the Institute is now sponsoring two PhD candidates to examine the placebo response from physiological and psychological perspectives. A professional conference bringing together experts in related fields is in the planning stages. The goal of this initial conference is to develop a protocol to investigate the mechanisms behind placebo responses as a prelude to determining how to induce the placebo predictably in a variety of clinical cases.
The Institute for Therapeutic Discovery is a not-for-profit research organization specializing in discovery and early-stage development of therapeutic agents for chronic diseases. It is headquartered near Albany, NY, with offices in Boxford, MA, and Richmond, VA.
