Behring Institute for Medical Research Call for Proposals

WHAT: Call for Placebos for Art
WHERE: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
DEADLINE: January 1, 2011
WHO: Artists, art lovers, professionals, as well as amateurs

The Behring Institute is seeking placebos for art. With these placebos, long-term research on the influence of art on public health will be carried out as of 2011. Artists, art lovers, professionals as well as amateurs, are being called on to submit proposals for potential art placebos before 1 January 2011.

Relationships between art and health care, as well as the influence and effects of art on health, have been studied frequently. The results of many studies indicate a positive outcome with regard to the treatment of patients and suggest that art can lead to the reduction of medicines used by patients, the shortening of patients’ stays in hospitals, the improvement of working conditions, the fostering of the doctor/patient relationship and the improvement of mental health. A recent study carried out among 12,000 subjects in Great Britain moreover shows that as people become increasingly involved with art, they generally appear to enjoy increasingly better-than-average health.

In order to do epistemological research on the phenomena manifest by the various studies, the Behring Institute will launch, in 2011, a long-term European study on the effects of art on the health of individuals. For the purpose of this scientific study, the Behring Institute now seeks placebos for art, which can be offered to a control group.

Results
Results will be publicized only after the project has been completed due to the ‘double- blind’ nature of the study. Midway through the course of this project, a special monitoring committee will be examining the research for significant discrepancies. In this type of research, the differences between the control group and the study group become visible only after the breaking of the code when the study is finished. All participating patients must give their consent prior to participation; the study will comply with Dutch legislation for academic medical research on human beings and will be carried out according to the international guidelines that apply to this.

We kindly ask you to contribute to the discovery of a suitable placebo. The Behring Institute will, in consultation with the makers of the works to be used, agree to appropriate compensation.

Examples and leads can be e-mailed to:
Mevrouw J. Andersom at j.andersom@behringinstitute.com

Or posted to:
Behring Institute, attn: Mrs. Andersom,
Herenmarkt 93F, 1013 EC Amsterdam,
The Netherlands.

Once the selection process has been completed, the submitted documentation can unfortunately not be returned.

Additional information:
http://www.behringinstitute.com/research/placebos_for_art/