Blackmores has been involved in complementary medicine research in some form for decades, initially through the supply of products or some funding to requesting researchers. However, in the late 1990s it was decided to formalise this function within the company with the appointment of a research manager. The research manager is based at Southern Cross University in Lismore NSW where the first four-year degree course in Naturopathy was established within the School of Natural and Complementary Medicine. Blackmores’ involvement in research runs from simply supplying product to researchers to the full funding of clinical trials. Blackmores is currently supplying the product for the VITATOPS trial, which is seeking to enrol up to 8000 people worldwide into a trial looking at the potential protective effect of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 in reducing the incidence of secondary stroke.
