Alan Bensoussan

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Emeritus Professor Alan Bensoussan is one of Australia's prominent integrative medicine researchers. Prior to his appointment as Emeritus Professor, he led NICM Health Research Institute as the Founding Director (2010-2020).

He has received ministerial appointments to several State and Commonwealth committees and has frequently consulted as an expert panel member to national and international agencies. Emeritus Professor Bensoussan was Chair of the Advisory Committee for Complementary Medicines of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (2011-14) and served on the National Medicines Policy Committee (2008-11). He currently serves as a Ministerial appointment to the Natural Therapies Review Expert Advisory Panel examining evidence in support of health insurance rebates. Emeritus Professor Bensoussan has also served as a consultant to the World Health Organization, the Singapore Health Sciences Authority Expert Panel for Herbal Medicines and on four international journal editorial boards.

His research contributions, particularly his clinical trials and public health research, have been widely reported. He has published over 200 scientific papers, two books and several book chapters, including a review of acupuncture research (1990) and a major government report on the practice of traditional Chinese medicine in Australia (1996), which led to national regulation of Chinese medicine practitioners in Australia in 2012 – the first western nation to do so.

Emeritus Professor Bensoussan has forged a broad network of links with national and international organisations within government and industry. In 2013, Emeritus Professor Bensoussan received the prestigious International Award for Contribution to Chinese Medicine, the only recipient outside the People's Republic of China. In 2014, he was awarded the Lady Cilento Award by the peak Australian industry association recognising an individual's lifetime achievements and outstanding contributions to the industry and community.

Research focus

• Clinical trials and evidence based practice
• Traditional Chinese medicine
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Complementary and integrative medicine usage

Awards and recognitions

• 2021 accorded the title of Emeritus Professor at Western Sydney University.
• 2014 Lady Cilento Award for lifetime achievement and outstanding contributions to the complementary medicines industry and community.
• 2013 International Award for Contribution to Chinese Medicine, World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies.
• 1999 Prize for best conference paper, WHO International Symposium on Traditional Chinese Medicine, Macao, September 18-20.
• 1997 Early Career research award, UWS
• 1991 'Gold Medal' and Distinguished Service Award on the basis of the publication of The Vital Meridian. Presented by an international collective of professional associations, Kuala Lumpur.

Projects and grants

Emeritus Professor Bensoussan's research has been supported by numerous external funding agencies including federal and state governments, NHMRC, local and international sources such as US NCCAM and UK NHS, industry, and professional associations.

See a list of past and current projects.(opens in a new window)

Education

• 2001 PhD, The University of Sydney, Australia
• 1992 MSc by research, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
• 1985 AdvCAc, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Australia
• 1982 DipAc, Acupuncture Colleges Australia
• 1980 PG DipEd, The University of Sydney, Australia
• 1979 BSc, The University of Sydney, Australia

Publications

For a full listing of publications please see:

• WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (opens in a new window)
• ORCID (opens in a new window)
• GOOGLE SCHOLAR (opens in a new window)
• THE CONVERSATION  (opens in a new window)