The Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter was founded in July 2011, at
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. It was formed out of the 1996 merger of Beth Israel Hospital (founded in 1916) and New England Deaconess Hospital (founded ...
and the
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the graduate medical school of Harvard University and is located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States and is consi ...
. Its purpose is to bring together researchers who are examining the
placebo
A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures.
In general ...
response.
PiPS is led by the following members of the Harvard faculty:
*
Ted Kaptchuk
Ted Jack Kaptchuk (born August 17, 1947) is an American medical researcher who holds professorships in medicine and in global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School. He researches the placebo effect within the field of placebo studi ...
, Director
*
Irving Kirsch
Irving Kirsch (born March 7, 1943) is an American psychologist and academic. He is the Associate Director of the Program in Placebo Studies and a lecturer in medicine at the Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is ...
, PhD, Associate Director
* Randy L. Gollub, MD, PhD, Director of Neuroimaging
* Anne Harrington, PhD, Director of Initiatives in the Humanities
* Efi Kokkoutou, MD, PhD, Director of Molecular Biology Research
* John Kelley, PhD, Director of Psychological Research
* Anthony Lembo, MD, Director of Clinical Research
External links
Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter website
Research projects