Hugh MacPherson Memorial Events
Each year we celebrate the acupuncture research legacy of the NCA’s cofounder Hugh MacPherson by hosting an online lecture on a related topic.
Our most recent event: Monday 3rd November 2025
We were delighted to announce that 2025’s Hugh MacPherson Memorial Lecture was given by Dr. Richard Harris, outgoing president of the global Society for Acupuncture Research.
Dr Harris has done groundbreaking work over the past 25 years investigating the neurobiological underpinnings of acupuncture and acupressure in the treatment of chronic pain, and his research has helped to establish acupuncture as a viable, effective treatment for chronic pain – of especial relevance against the backdrop of the US opioid crisis.
He introduced TARA, the Topological Atlas and Repository for Acupoint research, which is a US National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health funded project to develop a fully interactive anatomical atlas of acupoints and associated research studies. This exciting, leading-edge initiative will be of use to acupuncturists and researchers worldwide.
We were thrilled to be hosting Dr Harris’s lecture and welcomed our usual large audience of researchers and acupuncturists from across the world at this annual commemorative event.
Memorial events available to watch on demand for a small donation:
These memorial events are free to watch:
2023 Event:
'Acupuncture and the problem of Placebo'
Presented by: Stephen Birch and Terje Alraek
2022 Event:
'Complexity Science: a new (ancient) trajectory for acupuncture research and practice'
Presented by: Claudia Citkovitz and Lisa Conboy
2021 Event:
'Research into practice: Challenges and Strategies'
Presented by: Mike Armour
The Oslo Tapes
Presented by: Late Professor Hugh MacPherson | £15 | Available for 4 Years After Purchase
The Oslo Tapes include lectures on the following:
- Acupuncture and evidence-based medicine (21 mins)
- Acupuncture for Headache/Migraine, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal pain (43 mins)
- Acupuncture vs. other physical treatments for Osteoarthritis of knee: a network meta-analysis (17 mins)
- Acupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain (28 mins)
- Acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (15 mins)
- Acupuncture for Depression, with or without comorbid pain (58 mins)
