# 3rd International conference of The Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies-SIPS - Harnessing placebo mechanisms for optimal pain management and treatment of alcohol and other drug use disorder

> **NIH NIH R13** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2020 · $25,000

## Abstract

This project proposes to design, plan and organize an interdisciplinary, international scientific conference
designed to advance the science of placebo research and mind-body mechanisms, and apply this knowledge to
alcohol use and pain disorders. Pain and alcohol are inter-related conditions with large and individually variable
placebo effects on disease progression and response to treatments. Although an estimation of placebo effects
in clinical practice is difficult to establish, the effect size of placebo effects in laboratory settings ranges from
small to large based on numerous factors. In double blind clinical trials for pain and alcohol use disorders, the
responses to placebos can be as large as the active treatments leading to a stagnant era for the development
of new drugs because they do not exceed placebos. For example, placebo responses in alcohol use disorder
treatment trials ranges from 20.8% to 94%. We will have an in-depth discussion during the conference that will
improve our knowledge of placebo responsiveness, design of clinical trials and integration of nonpharmacological
approaches as a relevant and unique opportunity to improve patients’ outcomes, quality of life and functioning.
The conference deliverables will assist in expanding the empirical, conceptual and ethical understanding of the
placebo effect among academic researchers, health care professionals, as well as external stakeholders. We
will promote training and educational opportunities for junior and senior researchers who will be invited to
participate and present their work either as a podium or poster presentation. We will pay particular attention to
ensuring diversity by inviting minorities and women as speakers. Therefore, we will have three main AIMs for
the proposed 2021 conference at UMB are: 1. Provide a collaborative platform to present and share innovative
research findings and theoretical ideas on placebo research to a national and an international audience of
researchers. 2. Promote training and education of trainees, academic junior researchers, healthcare
professionals, agencies, and the public. 3. Advocate for the participation of minorities and women while
expanding the U.S. research in the global network of placebo research. The Interprofessional Continuing
Education Committee and selected faculty from UMB will collaborate with the Society for Interdisciplinary
Placebo Studies (SIPS) to design and produce this unique 2.5-day event. SIPS was created in 2014, with the
mission of promoting interdisciplinary investigation of placebo and nocebo phenomena
(https://sipsconference.com/). We anticipate attracting approximately 300 scientists worldwide including
trainees, junior faculty, and clinicians.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9993815
- **Project number:** 1R13AA028424-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** Luana Colloca
- **Activity code:** R13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $25,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9993815

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9993815, 3rd International conference of The Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies-SIPS - Harnessing placebo mechanisms for optimal pain management and treatment of alcohol and other drug use disorder (1R13AA028424-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9993815. Licensed CC0.

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