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Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation (MARF)
History
MARF was founded in 1988 as a charitable, nonprofit organization which serves as the research arm of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. The AAMA is the national professional society of physicians in North America who have incorporated the use of acupuncture into their medical practice. MARF is committed to all aspects of encouraging acupuncture research. This includes supporting both clinicians and researchers involved in acupuncture research, supporting the structure and organizations needed to foster the research, and directly promoting the research.
A Vision For The 21st Century:
The study of the principles and practice of acupuncture will improve the health care of the American people and expand our understanding of human health and physiology.
MARF Mission & Goals:
To encourage and support research in the principles and practice acupuncture:
- By encouraging and supporting basic scientific and clinical research of acupuncture and acupuncture efficacy
- By educating physicians and other researchers on the unique requirements necessary to investigate acupuncture for the purpose of improving the quality and quantity of acupuncture research.
- By improving communications among those conducting research in acupuncture.
- By facilitating communications between researchers and practitioners to allow for timely, appropriate utilization of acupuncture in the health care system.
MARF In Action:
The Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation is funded through donations and contributions from those interested in furthering research and examination of medical acupuncture. The work of the Foundation is carried out by dedicated volunteers, striving to advance the scientific knowledge of acupuncture. MARF has been involved in, and has supported a number of specific projects, including the following:
- Sponsored " Biomedical Research Acupuncture: An Agenda for the 1990's" a national conference involving practitioners and representatives from NIH, CDC, OAM, FDA, and ADAMHA, to delineate the key areas in need of research in acupuncture and the form that research should take to be acceptable to Western medical institutions.
- Distributed information and the necessary documentation for research grants in the newly established and funded grant programs of the Office of Alternative Medicine.
- Provided a peer review panel to the Office of Alternative Medicine to assist in assessing proposals and projects in acupuncture research.
- Conducted a demographic study of North American physicians practicing acupuncture to assess their training and background, the nature and extent of acupuncture practice, and other key characteristics.
- Published annual reviews of English?language acupuncture articles appearing in journals throughout the Western nations.
- Initiated a presence on the Worldwide Web to provide a vehicle for researchers and clinicians to exchange information on acupuncture research and clinical issues.
- Established a program to provide modest funding and support to those conducting clinically based research studies to assist in covering technical support costs.
- Established a database of more than 12,000 articles in 20 categories from basic physiology through clinical treatment areas, available to researchers and clinicians on the web @ www.acubriefs.com
- Sponsored, with AAMA and the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the International Symposium "Physiology of Acupuncture," attracting an international faculty to expore the basic physiology and biochemistry tenets of acupuncture.
- Created an annual Acupuncture Research Awards Program to encourage and recognize outstanding research with selected papers to be presented at the Annual Symposium of the AAMA. Secured funding to provide stipends and travel costs to award recipients.
- Initiated an office?based clinical network study involving more than 30 practitioners to examine the results of acupuncture in the treatment of low?back pain.
- Sponsors Acubriefs a monthly e-mail newsletter which provides practitioners and researchers with updated references and annotated abstracts.
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MARF In The 21st Century:
MARF is dedicated to practitioners, clinicians, and researchers interested in advancing the knowledge of acupuncture. It is the organization that is making a difference in organizing, compiling, and publishing the work and research already completed, and that research which is underway. It is the organization that is encouraging new research and dialogue through conferences, symposia and special panels. MARF is providing encouragement and funding support to those undertaking quality research. And MARF is disseminating to the professions and to the public the results of these efforts through publication of research findings, the Annual Literature Review, and the MARF online database of acupuncture references. The work of MARF has only begun. There is so much more that can and needs to be done to advance the understanding of acupuncture. But your help is needed to advance to the next plateau and to help build on the work already accomplished. Clinicians, practitioners, and researchers interested in advancing research and knowledge of acupuncture need to dedicate time and resources to help move the work of MARF forward into new areas of endeavor.
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2002 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
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President
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Richard Niemtzow, MD
1835 East Main Street
El Cajon, CA 92021-5255
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619-447-6806
Fax 619-447-6881
Email: n5ev@aol.com
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Vice President
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Lowell E. Kobrin, MD, PhD
1900 Woodland Drive
Coos Bay, OR 97420
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541-267-5151
Fax 541-269-1545
Email:
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Treasurer
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Young K. Bae
Bae Institute of Immune
Enhancement
1101 Bryan Ave., Ste. C
Tustin, CA 92780
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714-665-8824
Fax 714-665-8829
Email: baeinstitute@aol.com
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Secretary
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Michael A. Santoro, MD
CHS 3813 So Madison Street
Muncie, IN 47302
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765-751-3302
Fax 765-751-3304
Email: msantoro@chs.cami3.com
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Directors at Large
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Remy Coeytaux, MD
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Family Med., UNC
CB 7595, Room 259,
Family Practice Bldg.
101 Manning Dr.
Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-7595
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919-966-2596
Fax 919-966-6125
Email: remy_coeytaux@med.unc.edu
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Barbara Gilbertson, DO
2301 Mountain View Blvd. #B
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
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503-884-5681
Fax 503-884-5681
Email: bgilbert13@aol.com
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Peter A.S. Johnstone, MD MA
9497 Aldabra Ct
San Diego, CA 92129
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619-532-7274
Fax 619-532-8178
Email: pajohnstone@nmcsd.med.Navy. mil
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David Diehl, MD (02)
244 West 72nd #5b
NY, NY 10023
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212-562-4141
Fax 212-562-2297
Email: ddiehl@mol.net
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Sunanda Uberoi, MD
34509 9th Ave. So. #202
Federal Way, WA 98003
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253-838-3045
Fax 253-838-3310
Email: JerrieAnnJ@aol.com
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Gary Kaplan, DO
5275 Lee Hwy #200
Arlington, VA 22207
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703-532-4892
Fax 703-237-3105
Email: gkaplan@his.com
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Immediate Past President
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James K. Rotchford, MD (02)
1334 Lawrence Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
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360-385-4843
Fax 360-379-1441
Email: Kimber@olympus.net
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Executive Adm.
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Todd C. Royal
12930 Ventura Blvd. #923
Studio City, CA 91604
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818-906-3173
Fax 818-990-4686
Email: ToddRoyal@yahoo.com
Home 818-784-6342
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MARF Standing Committees & Chairman
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Acubriefs Committee:
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Dr. James K. Rotchford – Chairman
Peggy Albers – Administrator
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Grants Committee:
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Dr. Young Bae – Chairman
Dr. Michael Santoro – Member
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Research Contest Committee:
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Dr. Michael Santoro – Chairman
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Research Guide Pamphlet Committee:
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Dr. Remy Coeytaux – Chairman
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NIH Liaison Committee:
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Dr. Remy Coeytaux – Chairman
Dr. Peter A.S. Johnstone – Member
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Symposium Conference Committee:
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Dr. Lowell Kobrin – Chairman
Dr. Richard Niemtzow – Member
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Public Outreach Committee:
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Dr. Sunanda Uberoi – Member
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