The research unit FOR 1328, promoted by the German Research Foundation (DFG), investigates the mechanisms of placebo and nocebo effects. The transregional research group consists of scientists of the universities and university medical centers Essen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Mannheim, Marburg, Munich, and Tübingen (here you will find information about the mechanisms of placebo and nocebo effects).

Placebo and nocebo effects have been known as clinical phenomena for decades. A thorough investigation of biological and psychological pathways of action, however, has only started recently. Regarding placebo research the FOR 1328 is unique throughout Germany as well as throughout the world and reached an international top position in this field of research.

International leading position

The first triennial research program of the DFG research unit FOR 1328 entitled “Expectation and conditioning as basic processes of the placebo and nocebo response – From neurobiology to clinical applications” ended at the beginning of 2014. The cooperation among the different subprojects of the group was very successful. This is documented in numerous publications in highly ranked international journals.

Getting assistance from the DFG for another three years (2014-2017), the research unit started into the next funding period under the title: “Expectation and conditioning as basic processes of the placebo and nocebo response – Transferring mechanisms to clinical applications”. Aims of the research community are the systematical application of the mechanisms underlying placebo and nocebo responses to different clinical conditions, the improved coherence between the different subprojects of the DFG research unit, and last but not least the further development of its international leading position (click here to get more information about the goals of the research team FOR 1328).