News in Brief - February 2026
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Week beginning 2nd February 2026
News, advocacy and articles
Trial by Error by David Tuller "New Medical Anthropology Book on Chronic Illness Triggers Controversy"
Discussion of the controversy surrounding the book, Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long COVID.
Article | Thread
#MEAction "Congress Tells NIH: Develop Plan to Implement ME/CFS Research Roadmap"
Congress has directed the NIH to develop an implementation plan for the ME/CFS Research Roadmap. Money must still be allocated to fund the roadmap. #MEAction has sent a letter to the NIH director asking for $50 million of discretionary funding.
Article | Thread
Norwegian guidelines The Norwegian Directorate of Health has published a draft for guidelines on long-term fatigue, including ME/CFS. The Norwegian ME Association has stated the draft has major shortcomings. The draft is now open for external consultations until May 4th.
Guidelines draft l Statement from TNMA l Thread
The Sick Times "Maryland considers Long COVID innovation bill"
Maryland may soon become the first U.S. state to directly support Long COVID research and development. The proposed bill doesn’t allocate government funding to Long COVID research. It uses existing infrastructure in the state to create a system for distributing potential gifts from private donors.
Article | Thread
UK Walk for M.E. This group has launched its 13th year inviting people to do sponsored events. So far they have raised over £238,000 for biomedical research into ME/CFS.
Details | Thread
Mike Harley has reached a new milestone - 10,000 miles - in his marathon challenge fundraising. That includes all his training runs, 38 marathon races, and 11 half-marathon races. To date Mike has raised £52,518 for Invest in ME.
Blog | JustGiving Link | Thread
Bateman Horne Center has released an Impact Report for 2025 with highlights from last year.
Report (PDF) | Thread
........
Coming events
Solve ME Webinar - Protecting the Ones You Love: Legal & Insurance Tools for ME/CFS Caregivers
Wednesday, February 11, 12 - 1 pm Pacific / 3 - 4 pm Eastern
Discussion of "long-term disability (LTD) insurance, long-term care (LTC) planning, medical and legal documentation tips, and practical steps families can take to secure benefits and long-term stability."
Announcement | Registration | Thread
Bateman Horne Center - Free Online Support Group
Tuesday, February 17, 1 - 2 pm MDT
Topic: Coping with Depression and Emotional Overload
Advance registration required, registration link shows time in your time zone.
Registration | Thread
UK Hope 4 ME & Fibro N. Ireland Conference - Shaping The Future for M.E. & Long Covid - Collaboration for Change
Friday, March 27, 7 pm to 9 pm GMT, in person conference for professionals and the wider community.
Speakers: Ponting, Trinick, Weir and Kane.
Details and booking | Thread
........
Research news and articles
NMCB - The Netherlands
The Dutch NMCB research consortium held its General Assembly on 26 January 2026. Researchers of multiple ME/CFS studies reported their current status and preliminary findings.
Article | Thread
ME/CFS Research Foundation
Scientists and clinicians based at institutions located in Germany can apply for the 2026 research funding programme of the ME/CFS Research Foundation. €2 million is available for new research projects. The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 April 2026.
Article | Thread
.........
Research
ME/CFS research
Indistinguishable mitochondrial phenotypes after exposure of healthy myoblasts to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or control serum — Audrey A. Ryback et al.
"Despite our best efforts to replicate the study and findings from Fluge et al (2016), these results failed to demonstrate an effect of ME serum on increased OCR in cultured myoblasts." "Our results do not rule out the possibility of ME-biased factors being present in serum, but they do not support the use of this experimental method for detecting such factors."
Article | Thread
Immunoglobulin G Complexes from Post-infectious ME/CFS, including post-COVID ME/CFS Disrupt Cellular Energetics and Alter Inflammatory Marker Secretion — Liu et al.
"While IgG-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and alteration in energetics were more prominent in post-infectious ME/CFS patients, IgG-induced alterations in inflammation-associated cytokines were prominent in PCS-CFS patients." "We hypothesize that PCS-CFS patients represent an early stage of ME/CFS"
Article | Thread
The potential causes of myasthenia and fasciculations in severely ill ME/CFS patients: the role of disturbed electrophysiology — Wirth and Steinacker
Hypothesis paper. "Insufficient Na+/K+ -ATPase activity can explain mitochondrial dysfunction via sodium-induced calcium overload" "It may also contribute to a vicious circle that increases sodium loading through inappropriate excitations, further increasing mitochondrial damage through calcium overload."
Article | Thread
Long Covid research
NET Biomarkers in COVID-19 and Post-COVID Syndrome: a Comprehensive Analysis — Monsalve et al.
"Our findings revealed a significant increase in NET biomarkers during acute COVID-19 that persisted in PCS. This pattern was consistent with the in vitro study, where sera from PCS patients induced NET release."
Article | Thread
Non-invasive electrodiagnostic testing for small fibre neuropathy in long COVID-19 — Anthony Khoo et al.
"Notably, we demonstrated different combinations of abnormality among the four small fibre neuropathy tests illustrating the benefit of multimodal SFN testing protocols which interrogate different small nerve fibres."
Article | Thread
Choroid plexus alterations in long COVID and their associations with Alzheimer's disease risks — Huize Pang et al.
"patients exhibited enlarged ChP and reduced blood perfusion" "In addition to structural alterations, we observed decreased blood flow in the ChP" "findings indicate a regionally selective vulnerability of the ChP in long COVID"
Article | Thread
SARS-CoV-2 reinfections and subsequent risk of hospital-diagnosed post-acute sequelae in Denmark (2020–2022): a nationwide cohort study — Khurana et al.
"Of 4,418,544 individuals, 6942 (0.16%) were diagnosed with long COVID." "diagnoses were made in hospital settings and thus predominantly capture severe presentations. As a result, only a fraction of individuals experiencing postacute sequelae are likely represented, underestimating the true risk"
Article | Thread
Long-term health outcomes and risk factors for low self-rated health in non-hospitalised adults with post-COVID-19 condition: a 2.5-year cohort study — Törnberg et al.
"we observed sustained negative impacts of PCC on health outcomes 2.5 years after initial COVID-19 in non-hospitalised individuals, despite minor improvements over time."
Article | Thread
...........
S4ME social media: Forum, Mastodon, Bluesky
News, advocacy and articles
Trial by Error by David Tuller "New Medical Anthropology Book on Chronic Illness Triggers Controversy"
Discussion of the controversy surrounding the book, Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long COVID.
Article | Thread
#MEAction "Congress Tells NIH: Develop Plan to Implement ME/CFS Research Roadmap"
Congress has directed the NIH to develop an implementation plan for the ME/CFS Research Roadmap. Money must still be allocated to fund the roadmap. #MEAction has sent a letter to the NIH director asking for $50 million of discretionary funding.
Article | Thread
Norwegian guidelines The Norwegian Directorate of Health has published a draft for guidelines on long-term fatigue, including ME/CFS. The Norwegian ME Association has stated the draft has major shortcomings. The draft is now open for external consultations until May 4th.
Guidelines draft l Statement from TNMA l Thread
The Sick Times "Maryland considers Long COVID innovation bill"
Maryland may soon become the first U.S. state to directly support Long COVID research and development. The proposed bill doesn’t allocate government funding to Long COVID research. It uses existing infrastructure in the state to create a system for distributing potential gifts from private donors.
Article | Thread
UK Walk for M.E. This group has launched its 13th year inviting people to do sponsored events. So far they have raised over £238,000 for biomedical research into ME/CFS.
Details | Thread
Mike Harley has reached a new milestone - 10,000 miles - in his marathon challenge fundraising. That includes all his training runs, 38 marathon races, and 11 half-marathon races. To date Mike has raised £52,518 for Invest in ME.
Blog | JustGiving Link | Thread
Bateman Horne Center has released an Impact Report for 2025 with highlights from last year.
Report (PDF) | Thread
........
Coming events
Solve ME Webinar - Protecting the Ones You Love: Legal & Insurance Tools for ME/CFS Caregivers
Wednesday, February 11, 12 - 1 pm Pacific / 3 - 4 pm Eastern
Discussion of "long-term disability (LTD) insurance, long-term care (LTC) planning, medical and legal documentation tips, and practical steps families can take to secure benefits and long-term stability."
Announcement | Registration | Thread
Bateman Horne Center - Free Online Support Group
Tuesday, February 17, 1 - 2 pm MDT
Topic: Coping with Depression and Emotional Overload
Advance registration required, registration link shows time in your time zone.
Registration | Thread
UK Hope 4 ME & Fibro N. Ireland Conference - Shaping The Future for M.E. & Long Covid - Collaboration for Change
Friday, March 27, 7 pm to 9 pm GMT, in person conference for professionals and the wider community.
Speakers: Ponting, Trinick, Weir and Kane.
Details and booking | Thread
........
Research news and articles
NMCB - The Netherlands
The Dutch NMCB research consortium held its General Assembly on 26 January 2026. Researchers of multiple ME/CFS studies reported their current status and preliminary findings.
Article | Thread
ME/CFS Research Foundation
Scientists and clinicians based at institutions located in Germany can apply for the 2026 research funding programme of the ME/CFS Research Foundation. €2 million is available for new research projects. The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 April 2026.
Article | Thread
.........
Research
ME/CFS research
Indistinguishable mitochondrial phenotypes after exposure of healthy myoblasts to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or control serum — Audrey A. Ryback et al.
"Despite our best efforts to replicate the study and findings from Fluge et al (2016), these results failed to demonstrate an effect of ME serum on increased OCR in cultured myoblasts." "Our results do not rule out the possibility of ME-biased factors being present in serum, but they do not support the use of this experimental method for detecting such factors."
Article | Thread
Immunoglobulin G Complexes from Post-infectious ME/CFS, including post-COVID ME/CFS Disrupt Cellular Energetics and Alter Inflammatory Marker Secretion — Liu et al.
"While IgG-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and alteration in energetics were more prominent in post-infectious ME/CFS patients, IgG-induced alterations in inflammation-associated cytokines were prominent in PCS-CFS patients." "We hypothesize that PCS-CFS patients represent an early stage of ME/CFS"
Article | Thread
The potential causes of myasthenia and fasciculations in severely ill ME/CFS patients: the role of disturbed electrophysiology — Wirth and Steinacker
Hypothesis paper. "Insufficient Na+/K+ -ATPase activity can explain mitochondrial dysfunction via sodium-induced calcium overload" "It may also contribute to a vicious circle that increases sodium loading through inappropriate excitations, further increasing mitochondrial damage through calcium overload."
Article | Thread
Long Covid research
NET Biomarkers in COVID-19 and Post-COVID Syndrome: a Comprehensive Analysis — Monsalve et al.
"Our findings revealed a significant increase in NET biomarkers during acute COVID-19 that persisted in PCS. This pattern was consistent with the in vitro study, where sera from PCS patients induced NET release."
Article | Thread
Non-invasive electrodiagnostic testing for small fibre neuropathy in long COVID-19 — Anthony Khoo et al.
"Notably, we demonstrated different combinations of abnormality among the four small fibre neuropathy tests illustrating the benefit of multimodal SFN testing protocols which interrogate different small nerve fibres."
Article | Thread
Choroid plexus alterations in long COVID and their associations with Alzheimer's disease risks — Huize Pang et al.
"patients exhibited enlarged ChP and reduced blood perfusion" "In addition to structural alterations, we observed decreased blood flow in the ChP" "findings indicate a regionally selective vulnerability of the ChP in long COVID"
Article | Thread
SARS-CoV-2 reinfections and subsequent risk of hospital-diagnosed post-acute sequelae in Denmark (2020–2022): a nationwide cohort study — Khurana et al.
"Of 4,418,544 individuals, 6942 (0.16%) were diagnosed with long COVID." "diagnoses were made in hospital settings and thus predominantly capture severe presentations. As a result, only a fraction of individuals experiencing postacute sequelae are likely represented, underestimating the true risk"
Article | Thread
Long-term health outcomes and risk factors for low self-rated health in non-hospitalised adults with post-COVID-19 condition: a 2.5-year cohort study — Törnberg et al.
"we observed sustained negative impacts of PCC on health outcomes 2.5 years after initial COVID-19 in non-hospitalised individuals, despite minor improvements over time."
Article | Thread
...........
S4ME social media: Forum, Mastodon, Bluesky
Week beginning 9th February 2026
News, advocacy and articles
Greece
An educational campaign, "Long Covid Mythbusters", by the World Health Organisation's (WHO) regional office for Europe, aims to combat misconceptions about the syndrome. Endorsed by "Long Covid Greece", an association of long Covid patients, the campaign has distributed information materials to medical associations and the Ministry of Health.
Article | Thread
USA CDC The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
"This notice invites comment on a continuing information collection project titled School-Based Active Surveillance (SBAS) of ME/CFS Among Schoolchildren. This project will expand on the work from previous phases for active surveillance of chronic conditions, including ME/CFS."
CDC must receive written comments on or before April 13, 2026.
Details | Thread
Brazil Fibromyalgia is now recognized as a disability, expanding rights in Brazil - Flávia Adans
"Law No. 15.176, of July 23, 2025, establishes the basis for the creation of a national program to protect the rights of people affected by fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and other related diseases. The law defines guidelines for care, the formulation of public policies, and the criteria for the eventual equivalence of these people to the status of people with disabilities."
Article | Thread
IACFS/ME newsletter The International Association for CFS/ME has re-launched its newsletter after a 10 year gap. It is edited by psychologist Lea Höfel. The first edition gives a brief outline of the 2025 conference and invites contributions.
Newsletter | Thread
UK #ThereForME co-founder Karen Hargrave writes about applying for Continuing Healthcare funding
“For over a year now I’ve been struggling to secure NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding for my husband James. It’s been a gruelling process, emblematic of the many challenges people with ME face accessing support and ultimately getting the condition taken seriously by the NHS. Today I’m sharing our story, and why I think this is an issue that deserves decision-makers’ attention.”
Article | Thread
Podcast "In this episode of Death Clock, Brent is joined by Dr. Leonard Jason, a patient advocate and researcher focused on ME/CFS, to unpack a disease that is widely misunderstood and chronically underdiagnosed." They discuss definition, diagnosis, differentiation from fatigue and burnout, research and Long Covid. Duration 46 minutes.
Podcast | Thread
.......
Coming events
UK ME/CFS Alliance holding 20th Anniversary event “Stronger Together”
Described as “a symposium of UK and international scientists, clinicians, stakeholders, ME charities, ME/CFS patients, their families and supporters, to discuss the next strategic steps of ME research” this will include presentations from Prof. Sir Stephen Holgate, Prof. Chris Ponting, Prof. Danny Altmann, Prof. Nisreen Alwen, Dr. Karl Morten, Dr Carmen Scheibenbogen, Dr. Rob Wust and Dr Nancy Klimas.
The event will be at The Pavillion, Winchester Cathedral, 4th March 2026: 10.30-4.00 with tickets priced at £25/£20
Website | Thread
Australia Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS
The first 2026 meeting will be held online or in-person at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra
Tuesday, 10 March 2026, 11:00am – 1pm AEDT
Registration | Thread
........
Research news and commentary
USA Solve M.E. The evolving science of Long COVID and its far-reaching economic and social impacts
"Emily Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solve M.E., discusses the significant socioeconomic burden of Long COVID, highlighting advances in research that can improve understanding of Long COVID and enable targeted interventions and better treatment protocols"
Article | Thread
Webinar Are ME patients more prone to fungal infections? - with Katharine Seton and Simon Carding from Quadram Institute
Webinar organised by the Norwegian ME Association on whether fungal infections may play a role in ME. Also talks about an ongoing survey where Norwegians with ME or Long Covid, with or without fungal infections, as well as healthy controls, are invited to take part. Language: English. Duration: 41 minutes.
Webinar l Survey l Thread
.......
Research
ME/CFS research
Genetic Insights into Circulating Complement Proteins in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Potential Inflammatory Subgroup — Jessica Maya et al.
"our study identifies inflammation driven by high C3—likely resulting from increased inhibition of the alternative pathway—as a central feature in a genetically defined subgroup of ME/CFS"
Article | Thread
Long Covid research
Multimodal imaging suggests potential immune-vascular contributions to altered regional brain perfusion and oxygen metabolism in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome — Martins et al.
"this study demonstrates that PCS is associated with regionally specific alterations in cerebral perfusion and oxygen metabolism. These findings support a dual process model in which hippocampal hypermetabolism seems to reflect compensatory adaptation, while ACC neurovascular uncoupling might derive from neuroimmune disruption." "findings identify the ACC as a metabolically vulnerable hub in PCS"
Article | Thread
Impaired brain intrinsic connectivity in long COVID during cognitive exertion revealed by independent component analysis — Barnden et al.
"The widespread nature of LCov connectivity abnormalities supports a hypothesis that long COVID derives from brain-wide deficits."
Article | Thread
Circulating mitochondrial and cellular damage markers in long COVID: Links to cognitive function, psychological distress, and inflammation — Matits et al.
"general cognition correlated positively with the relative [circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA]"
Article | Thread
...........
S4ME social media: Forum, Mastodon, Bluesky
News, advocacy and articles
Greece
An educational campaign, "Long Covid Mythbusters", by the World Health Organisation's (WHO) regional office for Europe, aims to combat misconceptions about the syndrome. Endorsed by "Long Covid Greece", an association of long Covid patients, the campaign has distributed information materials to medical associations and the Ministry of Health.
Article | Thread
USA CDC The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
"This notice invites comment on a continuing information collection project titled School-Based Active Surveillance (SBAS) of ME/CFS Among Schoolchildren. This project will expand on the work from previous phases for active surveillance of chronic conditions, including ME/CFS."
CDC must receive written comments on or before April 13, 2026.
Details | Thread
Brazil Fibromyalgia is now recognized as a disability, expanding rights in Brazil - Flávia Adans
"Law No. 15.176, of July 23, 2025, establishes the basis for the creation of a national program to protect the rights of people affected by fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and other related diseases. The law defines guidelines for care, the formulation of public policies, and the criteria for the eventual equivalence of these people to the status of people with disabilities."
Article | Thread
IACFS/ME newsletter The International Association for CFS/ME has re-launched its newsletter after a 10 year gap. It is edited by psychologist Lea Höfel. The first edition gives a brief outline of the 2025 conference and invites contributions.
Newsletter | Thread
UK #ThereForME co-founder Karen Hargrave writes about applying for Continuing Healthcare funding
“For over a year now I’ve been struggling to secure NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding for my husband James. It’s been a gruelling process, emblematic of the many challenges people with ME face accessing support and ultimately getting the condition taken seriously by the NHS. Today I’m sharing our story, and why I think this is an issue that deserves decision-makers’ attention.”
Article | Thread
Podcast "In this episode of Death Clock, Brent is joined by Dr. Leonard Jason, a patient advocate and researcher focused on ME/CFS, to unpack a disease that is widely misunderstood and chronically underdiagnosed." They discuss definition, diagnosis, differentiation from fatigue and burnout, research and Long Covid. Duration 46 minutes.
Podcast | Thread
.......
Coming events
UK ME/CFS Alliance holding 20th Anniversary event “Stronger Together”
Described as “a symposium of UK and international scientists, clinicians, stakeholders, ME charities, ME/CFS patients, their families and supporters, to discuss the next strategic steps of ME research” this will include presentations from Prof. Sir Stephen Holgate, Prof. Chris Ponting, Prof. Danny Altmann, Prof. Nisreen Alwen, Dr. Karl Morten, Dr Carmen Scheibenbogen, Dr. Rob Wust and Dr Nancy Klimas.
The event will be at The Pavillion, Winchester Cathedral, 4th March 2026: 10.30-4.00 with tickets priced at £25/£20
Website | Thread
Australia Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS
The first 2026 meeting will be held online or in-person at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra
Tuesday, 10 March 2026, 11:00am – 1pm AEDT
Registration | Thread
........
Research news and commentary
USA Solve M.E. The evolving science of Long COVID and its far-reaching economic and social impacts
"Emily Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solve M.E., discusses the significant socioeconomic burden of Long COVID, highlighting advances in research that can improve understanding of Long COVID and enable targeted interventions and better treatment protocols"
Article | Thread
Webinar Are ME patients more prone to fungal infections? - with Katharine Seton and Simon Carding from Quadram Institute
Webinar organised by the Norwegian ME Association on whether fungal infections may play a role in ME. Also talks about an ongoing survey where Norwegians with ME or Long Covid, with or without fungal infections, as well as healthy controls, are invited to take part. Language: English. Duration: 41 minutes.
Webinar l Survey l Thread
.......
Research
ME/CFS research
Genetic Insights into Circulating Complement Proteins in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Potential Inflammatory Subgroup — Jessica Maya et al.
"our study identifies inflammation driven by high C3—likely resulting from increased inhibition of the alternative pathway—as a central feature in a genetically defined subgroup of ME/CFS"
Article | Thread
Long Covid research
Multimodal imaging suggests potential immune-vascular contributions to altered regional brain perfusion and oxygen metabolism in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome — Martins et al.
"this study demonstrates that PCS is associated with regionally specific alterations in cerebral perfusion and oxygen metabolism. These findings support a dual process model in which hippocampal hypermetabolism seems to reflect compensatory adaptation, while ACC neurovascular uncoupling might derive from neuroimmune disruption." "findings identify the ACC as a metabolically vulnerable hub in PCS"
Article | Thread
Impaired brain intrinsic connectivity in long COVID during cognitive exertion revealed by independent component analysis — Barnden et al.
"The widespread nature of LCov connectivity abnormalities supports a hypothesis that long COVID derives from brain-wide deficits."
Article | Thread
Circulating mitochondrial and cellular damage markers in long COVID: Links to cognitive function, psychological distress, and inflammation — Matits et al.
"general cognition correlated positively with the relative [circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA]"
Article | Thread
...........
S4ME social media: Forum, Mastodon, Bluesky