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Alternative health unit in royal row ‘to close’
Mark Prigg, Science and Technology Editor3 Mar 2010
The world's leading centre for scientific research is set to close within months after its funding dried up after a row with a senior aide to the Prince of Wales.
Headed by Edzard Ernst, Britain's first professor of complementary medicine, the University of Exeter unit will shut within 14 months unless a new backer can be found.
Professor Ernst hit out at university bosses he claimed offered to continue his financing. “I feel cheated, we are the only unit applying scientific principles to studying alternative remedies,” he said.
The Centre for Complementary Medicine was set up in 1993 with £1.5 million from Sir Maurice Laing, an industrialist.
Professor Ernst blamed its uncertain future on a lack of support from his university since he clashed publicly with Prince Charles's office five years ago. Professor Ernst attacked a report advocating complementary medicine, commissioned by the Prince, as “outrageous and deeply flawed”.
This prompted a formal complaint from Sir Michael Peat, the Prince's private secretary.
Exeter University rejected the claims, saying it had supported the unit from its own funds and was seeking external funding.
Reader views (4)
Andy, i'm afraid you are plain wrong from start to finish: a tiny amount of research will show you both that Prof. Ernst did not start from an "extreme" sceptic position, but has been lead there by the fact that studies show the vast majority of complementary therapies are at most as effective as a cup of tea and some sympathy, and that his department has conducted and published many original studies as well as sifting a lot of other study results.
The only people/organisations to have questioned his objectivity are those with a vested interest and/or belief in quackery (and Dim-bulb Charley has to be counted as both).
- Sam, Malvern, England, 04/03/2010 11:05
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contrary to what some people say,we have conducted about 40 clinical trials - more than any other unit in this field.we would like to do many more but lack of funding prevents us.
- Edzard Ernst, Exeter, 04/03/2010 10:03
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Professor Ernst has forged a career based on maximising media attention for himself and his cause. He has, in my opinion, shown himself to have entrenched views and conducts very little original research choosing instead to often review his own work. This is poor practice that has led to his objectivity being questioned on a number of occassions.
Further funding of CAM research should be used to conduct truely objective trials rather than allow the good professor more column inches.
- Andy, London, 04/03/2010 00:28
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Prince Charles passed HIS sell-by date. He's supposed to be a ceremonial figurehead head of state in waiting but this man will use every means at his disposal, and that's a lot of wealth, prestige and power, to wield all the influence he can for his pet causes. He will destroy the Monarchy.
- Braga, Canada, 03/03/2010 19:32
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