Chris Armstrong - Melbourne ME/CFS researcher, research updates

MyalgicE · May 18, 2022

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Dr Christopher Armstrong is an Australian scientist researching Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). He moved to California late last year to take up a position at the Open Medicine Foundation.

Previously Dr Armstrong worked on biochemistry and molecular biology in the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute at the University of Melbourne. He researched ME for eight years at the University of Melbourne, where he completed a PhD to pioneer the application of metabolomics.

We also talked about his community and political engagement:

“Patients have been patient for long enough.”

https://meaustralia.net/2019/02/20/meet-the-scientists-dr-christopher-armstrong/

Andy · Feb 20, 2019

"researchers to create surveys target specific participants", might have meant to be "researchers to create surveys targeted to specific participants" perhaps?

Jaybee00 · Jun 18, 2019

Do we have an email address for Chris @ OMF?

Thanks

Sly Saint · May 18, 2022

Merged thread

OMF Science Liaison Christopher Armstrong, PhD, is the guest speaker on the latest episode of Uninvisible Podcast with host and chronic disease patient advocate, Lauren Freedman. The Uninvisible Podcast focuses on invisible conditions and invisible chronic illness.

In this interview, Chris shared that OMFCA is focused on research to establish the biology of ME/CFS, to bring treatments to patients and educate the medical community. Chris emphasized that patients are at the forefront of researchers’ minds, focusing on getting treatments for patients as fast as possible while raising awareness to a broad audience. Chris also shared that the most significant change he sees in ME/CFS research in the last decade is the advances made by the Open Medicine Foundation.
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Listen to the full podcast here.

Uninvisible Podcast Episode #46 -Christopher Armstrong, PhD

https://www.omf.ngo/2019/10/31/christopher-armstrong-phd-speaks-out-on-uninvisible-podcast/

Ravn · Nov 10, 2019

Have listened to this now. Nothing really new, apart from Chris' background of which I was unaware, but a nice, thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion.

Tune in as Chris shares…

how he got involved in ME/CFS research

his main area of expertise: metabolomics

that ME/CFS outbreaks can be traced back as far as the mid-19thC, with symptoms commonly related to significant concerns with fatigue, sleep, pain, brain fog, and a 50% loss of general function

a description of PEM – post-exertional malaise – which is the main component of ME/CFS

that there are up to 50 symptoms associated with ME/CFS, but the main five are: PEM, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive impairment, and pain

that ME/CFS is highly comorbid with fibromyalgia and other invisible illnesses

that ME/CFS was originally described as a flu- or polio-like illness; and was first properly explained by the Ramsay definition and given the moniker of “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis”

that patients need to have ME/CFS for 6+ months in order to receive a diagnosis

one of the major schools of thought with regard to ME/CFS: that it stems from a dysfunction of stress response in the body; it’s possible, however, that bacteria and other pathogens may also play a role in onset

that 1 in 200-300 people has ME/CFS

that ME/CFS is NOT categorized as a rare disease; but it’s treated by the medical community as such – creating stigma through lack of research and understanding

that ME/CFS has been commonly misdiagnosed as a form of hysteria – both in the past and in the present

that very few clinicians dig in deep enough with their patients in order to give them an ME/CFS diagnosis – but that burden is not just on doctors, as diagnostics and treatment guidelines need to be standardized in order to support their work

that the Open Medicine Foundation was built to provide effective treatments for ME/CFS patients

that meeting patients has inspired him in his work, even from the very beginning

the desperate need for funding for continued research into ME/CFS

the politics of funding medical research

that ME/CFS is often considered to be more a psychological than a physiological illness

that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been more receptive than some Aussie governing bodies when it comes to research into ME/CFS

the biggest bright spot in ME/CFS: the momentum of funding for research

OMF’s collaborative research initiatives with Harvard, Stanford, and others

that ME/CFS could be a collection of several diseases, and not one disease in and of itself

the importance of specifics in diagnostics

why medicine needs to be patient-centered

the importance of pacing in order to avoid a crash related to PEM

info on OMF’s current fundraising initiative, #TripleTuesday – and how to donate to ME/CFS research and have your donation tripled by partners!

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https://uninvisiblepod.com/2019/10/30/episode-46-chris-armstrong/

MSEsperanza · Nov 10, 2019

For those who prefer reading to listening: I was happy to read on the podcast webiste:

Transcript coming soon!
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Jaybee00 · May 18, 2022

Merged thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuKPJTenDm0

Ravn · May 19, 2022

Jaybee00 said: ↑

Merged thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuKPJTenDm0

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That was an interesting presentation. Except that it didn't make clear which projects were just a plan and which were actually happening.

So I looked on the website (https://www.omf.ngo/omf-australia/) and it looks like the only study currently underway is the Ocular Motor study (confusingly with a wrong blurb on the intro page). Unless the website is not up to date, all the other OMF Australia studies seem to be still at various stages of planning.

The ocular study discussed in the video is progressing though:

Updates and Potential

IRB/clinical protocol completed and approved.

Preliminary trials on ME/CFS patients has already identified highly distinctive ocular motor changes in people with ME/CFS, which suggests disruption originating in the brainstem.

It appears that a fatigue phenotype will be able to be monitored using ocular motor testing.

A larger trial has begun this year with data collection ongoing and biofluid collection beginning.

Click to expand...

https://www.omf.ngo/ocular-motor-study/

Hutan · May 20, 2022

The project on young people, the 'good day, bad day' study is a big project funded by the NHMRC in 2020. As far as I am aware, it is underway.

wigglethemouse · May 20, 2022

OMG Financials show 3 of the studies received OMF funding in 2021

https://www.omf.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2021-OMF-Audited-Financial-Statements.pdf

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Chris Armstrong - Melbourne ME/CFS researcher, research updates

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