Projects:

Project No 1: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Trial
Summary:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common conditions treated by NHS homeopaths (Mathie 2006; Spence et al, 2005). Building on the promising existing homeopathy research in this condition (Owen 1990; Rahlfs 1976, Rahlfs 1979, Gray, 1998), a research team composed of homeopaths and gastroenterologists at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and researchers at the University of Leeds are planning to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of treatment by a homeopath for patients with IBS. In the pilot trial, 60 patients with a diagnosis of IBS will be randomly allocated to, usual care (anti-diarrhoeal/laxatives, anti-spasmodics and analgesics) or usual care plus a course of treatment by a homeopath. The pilot will be used to inform the design of a full-scale trial.
Status:
This project has already secured some funding and currently seeking further funding.
The project has strong backing from Barnsley Hospital
Research Team:
Dr K Kapur, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Mrs J Raw, Registered Homeopath
Mrs C Walters, Registered Homeopath
Dr C Relton, , Research Fellow, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Research Fellow, University of Sheffield, Registered Homeopath
Dr E Said, Registrar Rheumatology
Dr CM Smith, Research Fellow in Acute Care, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Miss E Goodwin, Acting Research Fellow, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Dr T Young, Lecturer in Medical Statistics, University of Sheffield
Mrs E Bowen Patient Representative

Project No 2: The Database Project
Summary The aim of this project is to allow the homeopathic community and the general public to gain a better understanding of the scientific evidence behind homeopathy by creating an online database of the existing scientific literature especially designed to be on an academic level accessible to all.
Why Presently no general source of information about the science of homeopathy exists. This state of affairs has led to a situation where only few people are aware of the existing research and has left the field open to deep criticism in the media.
Progress to date A first versionof the database up to date up to 1998 has kindly been donated to us by Dr M. Emmans-Dean. We are currently in the process of making it accessible to all on our website, corresponding to Phase I of the project.
Next steps Once the first database is in place (Phase I) , we will work on integrating data up to 2005 using previous work (Phase II) and finally we will input the papers from 2005 to the present day (Phase III). A task force will also be assigned to keeping the database up to date with the latest papers.
Funding required: £40K
Principal Investogator A. Tournier

Project No 3: Safety Study
Summary There is currently little evidence of the safety (or otherwise) of the prescription of homeopathic remedies by homeopaths to their patients. This study will collect information from homeopaths in the UK and their patients, while the study will focus primarily on the safety aspects it will also collect information about the use of homeopathy in daily practice.
Status This project is in its initial phases.
Principal investigator Emily Peckham & Clare Relton

Project No 4: Physics of homeopathy
Presently we have no accepted scientific theory of how homeopathic dilutions might work. Several lines of enquiry have been followed over the years with little success. As we have presented in our Spring 2010 Newsletter, a new quantum theory with the potential to adequately explain homeopathic dilutions exists. This theory initially described by G Preparata in 1995, is currently being investigated as a possible explanation for other anomalous physical effects.
The HRI proposes to explore and test this theory in the context of the high-dilutions present in homeopathy. We believe this theory is a strong candidate in the search for a physical theory of homeopathy.
Current status The project is in its initial phases. The first aim is to review the work of previous investigators. From there measuring instrumentation will be assembled in view of detecting measuring and analysing the electromagnetic properties of high-dilution samples.
Principal investigator A. Tournier
You can make donations directly to this project here

Project No 5: Homeopathy for cancer patients
Summary: A substantial number of cancer patients use complementary medicine in addition to their standard cancer regimen. This project will survey the use of complementary medicine by breast cancer survivor with the aim of identifying a number of symptoms for which patients seek relief using homeopathy. The aim is then to investigate the use of homeopathy for the relief of these symptoms using clinical trials.
Status: This project is still in it's initial stages.
Principal investigator: Fiona Madon & Alex Tournier