Event, Newry, N. Ireland: Dr. Jonathan Kerr: ME/CFS Subtypes & Targeted Effective Treatments

John Mac

John Mac

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Dr. Jonathan Kerr BSc, MBBCh, MD, PhD, FRCPath, qualified in medicine from Queen’s University in Belfast, he is regarded as one of Britain’s foremost ME/CFS researchers, and an expert in microbiology, inflammation and genetics. This lecture will include information on his current biomedical research findings on identifiable ME subgroups and specifically targeted treatments.
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DATE AND TIME
Tue 30 October 2018
19:00 – 21:00 GMT

LOCATION
Mourne Country Hotel
52 Belfast Road
Newry
BT34 1TR

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dr-j...eted-effective-treatments-tickets-51366273908
 
Dr Kerr is a most decent kind man. Years back I just rang him up, desperate mother that I am. He picked up the telephone himself. I guess I hit on the correct extension. When I described the situation he extended so much delicacy and empathy. I will never forget the call.
 
Trish said:
Does anyone know whether it will be live-streamed or filmed for later viewing?

Here's the MEPedia page about him and his research.
https://me-pedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Kerr
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Yes I’m going to ask for his permission to livestream. I had to debate in my head if public live-streaming again was the ‘right’ thing to do by our loyal charity members, as up until now we have been providing this monthly livestream service to our house/bed bound members only.
I now feel it would be unfair not to share publically when certain monthly meeting, expert speakers are covering such vital issues like PACE and now JK presenting new research findings.

I think I often react in an overprotective manner to our members sometimes, as without their support and their monetary donations we wouldn’t exist and couldn’t run the charity..... if that makes any sense!
Fingers crossed he’ll agree now.
 
JoanNI said:
Yes I’m going to ask for his permission to livestream. I had to debate in my head if public live-streaming again was the ‘right’ thing to do by our loyal charity members, as up until now we have been providing this monthly livestream service to our house/bed bound members only.
I now feel it would be unfair not to share publically when certain monthly meeting, expert speakers are covering such vital issues like PACE and now JK presenting new research findings.

I think I often react in an overprotective manner to our members sometimes, as without their support and their monetary donations we wouldn’t exist and couldn’t run the charity..... if that makes any sense!
Fingers crossed he’ll agree now.
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You could always ask those who partake in the livestream for a small donation to cover the cost if there’s a way to donate to your group ionline.
 
Jonathan Edwards said:
I'm getting this rather poorly lit video of little green men pulling plugs out and chuckling to each other.
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I couldn't resist
ancient-aliens-meme-24.jpg
 
I listened to the video. I am afraid I am very disappointed. Dr Kerr's description of the background immunology is vague, muddled and in places wrong. The claim that there is new evidence for EBV involvement does not fit with what I have seen of studies over the last 5 years. The emphasis on psychological stress seems ungrounded and unhelpful. I think this is weak science that is a distraction from the need to get some high quality research going.

I think it is particularly unfortunate that he ends up effectively recommending anti-viral drugs, which trials so far indicate do not work. The last thing we need is for parents to be searching out private practitioners who are prepared to treat children and adolescents with drugs like this without proper evidence of effectiveness and safety. I think we all have an obligation to ensure we do not encourage irresponsible practice.
 
Jonathan Edwards said:
I think it is particularly unfortunate that he ends up effectively recommending anti-viral drugs, which trials so far indicate do not work. The last thing we need is for parents to be searching out private practitioners who are prepared to treat children and adolescents with drugs like this without proper evidence of effectiveness and safety. I think we all have an obligation to ensure we do not encourage irresponsible practice.
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You suggest that using anti-viral drugs to treat viral reactivation is irresponsible.

Non ME children are treated routinely with anti-virals such as acyclovir, for varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex virus etc.

Your statement does not reflect the widespread use of these drugs with children outside the area of ME, the lack of any concerns as a result of such use or the positive anti-viral experiences of people focused on ME such as Professor Montoya or others such as Lerner.

Either way, please would you explain how you would suggest treating reactivated herpes viruses if not with the recommend drugs designed to treat herpes viruses or if you saying that viral reactivation should not be treated at all, why not?

Thanks
 
I found the talk confusing. Was he saying ME/CFS is an autoimmune disease? He seemed to skirt around this, talking about similar symptom patterns to some autoimmune diseases and EBV being implicated in some. He also included Fibromyalgia as an autoimmune disease and talked about autoantibodies. I don't think I've heard any other researcher saying there is evidence that it is autoimmune.

And he kept talking about as though ME/CFS was the same as viral reactivation. I haven't heard that one before either. Didn't Ron Davis find no evidence of viral reactivation?

And he went on a lot about psychological stress being involved in viral reactivation, which may be true, but what has that to do with ME/CFS?

I'm left more confused than enlightened.
 
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