Latest findings in homeopathy research to be presented in Rome

London, 27^th May 2015: Over 250 scientists from 39 countries are meeting in Rome from 5-7 June to share their latest findings in homeopathy research.

‘Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy,’ the second international conference organised by the Homeopathy Research Institute, brings together the most respected academics in this field from around the world to answer some of homeopathy’s most pressing questions – how does it work, and what can it treat?

The 37 speakers drawn from 17 different countries include 6 university professors and 28 doctors. Each presentation has been carefully selected to showcase the best of homeopathy research, covering diverse topics ranging from the treatment of depression to lab-based experiments investigating how homeopathic medicines work.

Dr Robert Mathie, a keynote speaker at the conference, will share detailed data from his recently published systematic review of randomised controlled trials on the effects of individualised homeopathic treatment. Unlike previous meta-analyses, which have made no distinction between different types of homeopathy, this study looked solely at standard care as delivered by most homeopaths, in which prescriptions are tailored to each individual patient. This ground-breaking study found that individualised homeopathic treatment is more effective than placebo, even when one considers only results from the highest quality trials.

HRI is proud to be hosting this unique forum for international scientific collaboration, fostering the research needed by patients, healthcare providers and policy makers to enable them to make informed decisions about homeopathy.

As Dr Alexander Tournier, Executive Director of the Homeopathy Research Institute explains, “Homeopathy research presents us with no shortage of profound questions and challenges. This conference highlights the ongoing work of an active and dedicated community of academic researchers fascinated by this emerging field.”

Notes for editors

1. Homeopathy Research Institute is a charity dedicated to the evaluation of homeopathy using rigorous scientific methods and communicating the results of such work beyond usual academic circles.

2. ‘Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy’ is a biannual international research conference with a programme dedicated solely to high-end, robust scientific research. The programme includes presentations on clinical research (quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods), fundamental research, laboratory-based research, pathogenetic trials and veterinary research.

3. In the study Randomised placebo-controlled trials of individualised homeopathic treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis (Mathie et al, Systematic Reviews, 2014, 3:142), Dr Robert Mathie and an international team of researchers analysed a large body of clinical trial data, identifying 22 clinical trials for inclusion in the meta-analysis. They used the most up-to-date scientific methods, recommended and recognised by the wider scientific community for assessing clinical trial outcome data.

4. For academically sound facts about homeopathy research, answers to typical questions on homeopathy, evidence on specific medical conditions and to dig a little deeper into the homeopathy debate, visit the HRI website.

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