Universities have vital role in CAM research 3

Times Higher Education says that evidence for the effectiveness of homoeopathy "is encouraging for chronic fatigue syndrome only".

We wish to correct this assertion and point out that there are eight other clinical areas where homoeopathy has been shown to be effective in replicated clinical trials and/or systematic reviews of trials: allergies and upper-respiratory tract infections, including glue ear; childhood diarrhoea; fibromyalgia; hay fever; influenza; osteoarthritis; sinusitis; and vertigo.

And Ann Mroz's leader ("A suitable subject for teaching?" 30 October) is misleading in its suggestion that CAM "fails to be subjected to the same rigorous scrutiny applied to other, more conventional, therapies".

Research development in a number of CAM therapies, notably acupuncture and homoeopathy, is moving forward, with rigorous criteria increasingly being applied to research design. In this, the universities clearly have an important role in working closely with CAM practitioners.

Robert Mathie, Research development adviser, Faculty of homoeopathy.