Past Research Projects
Herbal Medicine to Treat Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and imposes a huge financial burden on the Australian health care system. Herbal medicine has been widely used in cardiovascular care in many countries for centuries. Despite a growing body of scientific evidence in support of the use of herbal medicine for the management of CVD, significant gaps exist in knowledge base surrounding mechanisms of action of these interventions. This project will focus on the evaluation of mechanisms of action of herbal formulations for coronary heart disease/stroke and vascular dementia, using both in vitro and in vivo models.
Researchers: Professor Dennis Chang, Dr Xian (Phoebe) Zhou
A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Sailuotong (SLT), a standardised Chinese herbal medicine formula in patients with Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
Researchers: Prof. Dennis Chang, Prof. Alan Bensoussan
Partner/Funding Body: Australia Shineway Technology Pty Ltd
Electronic health record data capture and management in Chinese medicine consultations
Researchers: Prof. Athula Ginige, Prof. Alan Bensoussan, Prof. Anthony Maeder, Dr. Xiaoshu Zhu
Partner/Funding Body: Surity Pty Ltd and University of Western Sydney
Joint Chair Program in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Researchers: Prof. Alan Bensoussan, A/Prof. Dennis Chang
Partner/Funding Body: NSW Department of State and Regional Development, University of Western Sydney, University of Sydney
Synergistic activity of herbal medicines in stroke
Researchers: Prof. Kelvin Chan, Dr. Valentina Naumovski
Strengthening Australia - China cooperation in research on plants for use in traditional Chinese medicine
Researchers: Prof. Kelvin Chan, Prof. Alan Bensoussan, Prof. David Briggs, Shulin Chen, Murray Spicer
Strengthening CompleMED's clinical trials platform through the Evado electronic data capture system, and analytical chemistry instrumentation required for herbal medicine definition.
Researcher: Prof. Alan Bensoussan
Traditional medicine internationalisation platform
Researchers: Prof. Alan Bensoussan, Prof. Kelvin Chan, A/Prof. Dennis Chang, Prof. Jianxun Liu, Prof. Basil Roufogalis
Healthworld's IronMax for iron deficiency anaemia
Researchers: Dr. Anthony Good, Prof. Alan Bensoussan, Paul Fahey
Protocol to conduct a dose-ranging randomised placebo controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the Traditional Chinese Medicine formulation "Concord Care 1 (CC1)" in palliative cancer patients
Researchers: Dr. Anthony Good, Prof. Alan Bensoussan, Paul Fahey
National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM)
Researcher: Prof. Alan Bensoussan
NICM TCM Clinical Trials Network
Researchers: Prof. Alan Bensoussan, Prof. Caroline Smith
Helping Hand in Cancer Treatment
Researchers: Prof. Kelvin Chan, Dr Valentina Naumovski, Dr Srinivas Nammi
Partner/Funding Body: UWS, Purapharm
NICM Collaborative Centre in Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Clinical Trials Network (Bensoussan, Smith et al)
- Acupuncture Network (Smith, Zaslawski et al)
- Neuroprotective effects of Chinese herbal medicines (Chang)
NICM 2007-2008 Researcher activity and capacity audit
This report is a partial update of a CM audit undertaken in 2005. 
Read more...(PDF, 236.65 KB) (opens in a new window)
Complementary medicine: A snapshot (2005)
This report was commissioned by the NSW Ministry (now the Office of Science and Medical Research).
Read more...(PDF, 308.8 KB) (opens in a new window)
Clinical and physiological evaluation of constipation predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Researchers: Prof. Alan Bensoussan, A/Prof. John Kellow (Royal North Shore Hospital, Gastrointestinal Investigation Unit), Dr Allison Malcolm (Royal North Shore Hospital, Gastrointestinal Investigation Unit)
Funding Body: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Bensoussan A. Chinese herbal medicine for constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomised control trial (oral presentation). ICCMR 2013; 11 April, 2013; London, UK: Forschende Komplementarmedizin; 2013
Bensoussan A, Kellow J, Bourchier S, editors. Chinese herbal medicine for constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome. International Scientific Acupuncture and Meridian Symposium (isams 2012); 2012 5-7 October 2012; UTS, Sydney, Australia: iSAMS Organizing Committee.
A feasiblity study to examine the role of acupuncture to reduce symptoms of lymphoedema post-breast cancer treatment
Researchers: Prof. Caroline Smith, Prof. Paul de Souza, Prof. Sharon Kilbreath (University of Sydney), A/Prof. Marie Pirotta (University of Melbourne)
A pilot study to examine the role of acupuncture to restore weight, improve eating behaviours and reduce anxiety and depression in those with Anorexia Nervosa
Researchers: Prof. Caroline Smith, Dr Sarah Fogarty
Fogarty S, Harris D, Zaslawski C, McAinch AJ, Stojanovska L. Development of a Chinese medicine pattern severity index for understanding eating disorders. J Altern Complem Med. 2012;18(6):597-606. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2011.0069
Fogarty S, Harris D, Zaslawskic C, McAincha AJ, Stojanovskaa L. Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of eating disorders: A randomised cross-over pilot study. Complementary Ther Med. 2010;18:233-40. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2010.09.006
Clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Ganoderma lucidum for treatment of Metabolic Syndrome
Researchers: Nerida Klupp, A/Prof. Dennis Chang, Prof. Hosen Kiat (Macquarie University), Dr. Karl Landorf (La Trobe University)
Klupp NL, Chang D, Hawke F, Kiat H, Grant SJ, Bensoussan A. Ganoderma lucidum for the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008(3):CD007259. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007259
Establishment of a mass spectrometry facility for natural products and proteomics research and teaching at the College of Health and Sciences with UWS, Campbelltown Campus
Researchers: Prof. Nikolaus Sucher, Prof. Jens Coorssen, Prof. William S. Price, Prof. Gerald Muench, A/Prof. Dennis Chang
Funding Body: UWS Research Infrastructure Fund (RIF)
Molecular effects of Chinese herbal medicines on oxidative stress resistance and ageing in yeast: A functional genomics and phytochemistry approach
Researchers: Prof. Nikolaus Sucher, Dr Suresh Govindaraghavan
Partner/Funding Body: Lipa Pharmaceuticals & UWS Partnership Program
Acupuncture and mucosal immunity in the upper respiratory tract
Researchers: Prof. Caroline Smith, P. K. Smith, A.W. Cripps
Partner/Funding Body: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Development of a long term cardiovascular research plan in complementary medicine (CM). Phase 1: Review of clinical effectiveness and approaches to economic analysis of CM interventions in cardiovascular disease
Researchers: A/Prof. Dennis Chang, Prof. Alan Bensoussan, A/Prof. Hosen Kiat
Partner/Funding Body: Cardiac Health Institute and UWS Partnership Grant
Effect of herbal medicine and acupuncture on memory, attention and learning
Researchers: A/Prof. Dennis Chang, Dr. Ben Colagiuri, A/Prof. Luo Rong
Joint Chair in Traditional Chinese Medicine ("JCTCM") between UWS & University of Sydney
Researchers: Prof. Alan Bensoussan, A/Prof. Dennis Chang
Partner/Funding Body: Office of Science and Medical Research, University of Western Sydney and University of Sydney
Acupuncture & post breast cancer fatigue. Can acupuncture reduce fatigue post breast cancer treatment? A pilot randomised controlled study
Researcher: Prof. Caroline Smith
Partner/Funding Body: NSW Cancer Institute
Acupuncture and reproductive health outcomes: Building evidence in an integrated care setting
Researchers: Prof. Caroline Smith, Prof. Michael Chapman (IVF Australia), Jane Lyttleton (Acupuncture IVF Support Clinic), A/Prof. Gavin Sacks (IVF Australia)
Partner/Funding Body: National Institute of Complementary Medicine and IVF Australia
Use and attitudes towards complementary therapies among women of reproductive age
Researchers: Prof. Caroline Smith, Dr. D. Bateson
Partner/Funding Body: Family Planning NSW
A pilot study of the role of acupuncture to reduce induction of labour
Researchers: Prof. Caroline Smith, Dr. M. Davey
Partner/Funding Body: La Trobe University and University of Western Sydney
Restoring resilience in refugees: A pilot trial of a novel therapeutic intervention for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Iraqi refugees (The Triple R Study)
Researchers: Prof. Caroline Smith, Dr. Shameran Slewa-Younan, S. Smith
Partner/Funding Body: University of South Australia and University of Western Sydney
Meta-analysis on Omega 3 Fish Oils & Calcium supplementation
Researchers: Dr Benjamin Tang and Dr Guy Eslick in conjunction with Prof. Alan Bensoussan, Prof. Caroline Smith, Prof. Peter Howe, Prof. Caryl Nowson
Partner/Funding Body: Australian Self Medication Industry and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
Tang BM, Eslick GD, Nowson C, Smith C, Bensoussan A. Use of calcium or calcium in combination with vitamin D supplementation to prevent fractures and bone loss in people aged 50 years and older: A meta-analysis. Lancet. 2007;370(9588):657-66. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61342-7
Treating bowel disorders with traditional Chinese medicine
Researchers: Prof. Alan Bensoussan, Prof. Brian Berman et al in collaboration with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Illinois and Mayo Medical Centres.
Partner/Funding Body: US National Institute of Health (NIH) - International Collaborative Research Centre Project
