June 1993
OAM formally established under the National Insti-
tutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993
(P.L.103–43) to facilitate study and evaluation of
complementary and alternative medical practices
and to disseminate the resulting information to the
public.
September 1993
First OAM research project grants funded through
the National Center for Research Resources.
December 1993
Alternative Medicine Program Advisory Council
established.
September 1994
Alan I. Trachtenberg, MD, MPH, appointed Acting
Director, OAM.
January 1995
Wayne B. Jonas, MD, appointed second Director,
OAM.
October 1995
Research Centers Program established to provide a
nationwide focus for interdisciplinary CAM
research in academic institutions.
October 1996
Public Information Clearinghouse established.
November 1996
OAM designated as a World Health Organization
Collaborating Center in Traditional Medicine.
September 1997
First Phase III clinical trial funded to test the efficacy
of Hypericum perforatumfor treatment of depression.
October 1998
National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine established, by Congressional mandate,
under provisions of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill
(P.L.105–277). This bill amended Title IV of the Pub-
lic Health Service Act and elevated the OAM to an
NIH Center.January 1999
William R. Harlan, MD, named Acting Director,
NCCAM.February 1999
Charter creating NCCAM, making it the 25th inde-
pendent component of the National Institutes of
Health signed. The law gave the NCCAM Director
control of the Center’s day-to-day financial and
administrative management, as well as broad deci-
sion-making authority and fiscal responsibility for
grants and contracts. Dr. Donna E. Shalala, Secre-
tary, Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), approved the charter of the Center on
February 1, 1999, its first official business day.May 1999
First independently awarded NCCAM research
project grant made.NCCAM Trans-Agency CAM Coordinating Com-
mittee (TCAMCC) established by the NCCAM
Director to foster NCCAM’s collaboration across the
Department of Health and Human Services and
other Federal agencies. This committee superseded
a transagency committee established by the NIH
Director in 1997.June 1999
Special Emphasis Panel chartered to enable
NCCAM to conduct peer review of CAM research
project grant applications.July 1999
Cancer Advisory Panel for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (CAPCAM) created to assess
preliminary clinical data related to treatment of
cancer submitted by CAM practitioners.August 1999
National Advisory Council on Complementary and
Alternative Medicine chartered.Appendix V 229