Beyond genes: EpiSwitch® & Orion platform-powered 3D genome architecture biomarkers reveal shared biology across ME/CFS, LC, PTSD, RA&MS, 2026, Hunter

[SugarSquared]

Science Media Centre asked several researchers for their thoughts on this paper. My colleague, Sjoerd Beentjes, responded, as did I. https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/...-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-multiple-sclerosis/

Thank you for sharing.

I think that the proprietary aspect of the data and methods used is the most concerning to me. It would be great to have your team analyze this and compare it with your GWAS, but if it’s a black box, we don’t get anything. It can’t spawn off the same work that DecodeME has because no one can access it, and there’s no way to independently verify it. Thank you to both you and Sjoerd Beentjes for highlighting this.

 

[hotblack]

DecodeME LocusZoom for LAG3 which they mention.
Also the genecard.

None of us like the spin and from some we see seem to only have that. At the same time expecting people with real ideas to not use some of those promotional tactics is unrealistic I think. Telling the difference between these groups is hard for us though.

We need more people in the field and they will need to make a living. We also need private companies to pay attention to the condition and invest in treatments, as well as governments. So commercial and financial interests will play a part and I think the ‘commercial/proprietary == bad’ reaction is not going to be useful for us.

But I’m not yet convinced there’s anything new here. They’re going to have to persuade people of their methods and findings and prove them. So far they just seem to be expecting people to trust them which I don’t think is going to work for patients or investors.

 

[V.R.T.]

I think there's something to be said here about the unpleasant phenomenon of seeing headlines you have dreamed about seeing, but for studies you know have very questionable methodologies and may well not be what they claim. A friend sent me the last episwitch paper when it was published and i had to explain the flaws with it. It was a depressing experience.

I cannot put into words how desperately I want whats reported here to be true. It's sort of like when doctors or OTs tell you that you will get better naturally when you know you likely won't.

I wish companies like Oxford Biodynamics would consider the impact of false (or at least premature) hope on a desperate population.

Oh well. Roll on the real breakthrough!


P.s. As hotblack says if there's something real here this team needs to listen to the concerns of fellow scientists and adapt their methods in their next studies to prove their findings.