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© NHAA 2014. The need for research in complementary medicine (CM), which is meaningful and relevant within a real world setting, has been growing since the advent of the evidence-based practice movement. This need has not, however, been successfully addressed due to both insufficient interest amongst the research population and issues with the usefulness of much of the completed research to inform the practical needs of clinicians and policy makers. These issues may be attenuated by seeing an increased number of CM practitioners involved in future research projects. However, the absence of appropriate and focused research training for CM practitioners may hinder the number of practitioners pursuing research careers. With this in mind, there is a real need to see an increase in both the availability of higher degrees by research at both undergraduate and postgraduate level for CM practitioners as well as the institutions offering these degrees. In particular, ensuring that CM practitioners are able to receive primary supervision of a research project by researchers with a detailed understanding of CM is vital if effective and meaningful CM research, which is well-supported within higher education institutions, is to occur.