News in Brief - November 2025
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Week beginning 3rd November 2025
News, advocacy and articles
Australia - Emerge From Stigma to Science: Educating for Change
On Thursday 30 October, at Australian Parliament House, Emerge Australia hosted an ME/CFS and long COVID Action Forum. The forum brought together people with lived experience, researchers, clinicians, parliamentarians, and departmental representatives. Prof. Chris Ponting discusses the huge personal, social and economic burden and the essential requirement for countries to have a national ME/CFS strategy.
Emerge | YouTube | Thread
David Tuller Interview with Brian Hughes, professor of psychology at University of Galway in Ireland
A very interesting interview with professor Brian Hughes about his latest book "Psychology's Quiet Conservatism: How a Supposedly Woke Science Promotes Capitalism and Protects Privilege".
From the description on YouTube: "Professor Hughes has for years sough to counter the psychogenic framing of ME, ME/CFS, Long COVID, and related complex conditions--a theme he explores in the new book. In this interview, he explains why the psychogenic approach is fundamentally regressive and ends up depriving people of the medical care they need and deserve."
Interview l Thread
UK Goverment report Keep Britain Working
On 5 November 2025, the UK Government announced a new partnership with major employers to tackle rising economic inactivity linked to long-term sickness.
The ME Association welfare rights consultant, Ella Smith, raises concerns in an article, inviting comments. "The idea that work can always be retained with the right support fails to recognise the reality for those with severe or very fluctuating symptoms."
Government report | MEA article | Thread
UK ME Association provides useful resources for those in the UK with ME/CFS who want NHS funded influenza vaccination from a pharmacy.
Article | Thread
USA - Westword "Art Show It Comes in Waves Brings Long COVID Stories to Light"
Article discussing an art exhibition in Aurora, Colorado, which features artwork made by people with Long Covid. It Comes in Waves runs through December 30.
Article | Thread
Canada - Medscape "Canadian Cardiologists Must Step Up Care for Long COVID"
Report on an educational session from the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress (CCC) 2025 about cardiovascular issues associated with Long Covid.
Article | Thread
..............
Coming events
#MEAction - Two webinars on caregiving
Free tickets available on request.
"Top 10 Lessons from 20 Years of Caregiving webinar with Kim Moy"
Sunday, November 16, 3 pm EST/noon PST
Tickets | Thread
"Chronic Illness Caregiving for Youth, Teen, and Adult Children with Denise Lopez-Mojano"
Sunday, November 22, 3 pm EST/noon PST
Tickets | Thread
UK Action for ME Webinar: Final findings from the LOCOME Research Project
Monday 24 November at 3pm (UK time)
The LOCOME Project, a collaboration between PrecisionLife, Action for ME, and the University of Edinburgh, is nearing completion at the end of November. The project has used large-scale data analysis to explore genetic patterns that could help identify similarities and differences between ME/CFS and Long Covid. Open to all.
Article | Registration | Thread
..............
Research news
UK Edinburgh University PhD 3 year funded fellowship. Closing date 16th January 2026
Personalised blood-based biomarkers for ME/CFS symptom severity
"Samples would be collected as dried blood spots, provided in participants’ homes, and protein levels would be measured via Olink proximity extension assays"
Details | Thread
UK ME/CFS Biobank The ME Association reports from the biobank steering group meeting in September, including news on further sample collections and projects using the samples.
Article | Thread
UK ME Association Research: New funding awarded to PhD project that will identify key metabolites and infection markers in ME/CFS, funded by the MEA and UKRI, PhD candidate Aleyna Lumsden, under the supervision of Dr Bela Paizs and Professor Karl Morten, "using advanced informatics and mass spectrometry to investigate biological signatures of ME/CFS."
Article | Thread
Medscape Research Into ME/CFS Pathology Points to Possible Treatments -
Miriam E. Tucker
"At International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFS/ME) 2025, speakers summarized their research into the underlying pathomechanisms of ME/CFS and long COVID and the potential for treatment approaches specifically targeting those identified abnormalities."
Article | Thread
USA - Stanford Genome Technology Center
A playlist of recordings from the September 5 Community Symposium have been posted on YouTube.
Videos | Thread
..............
Research
ME/CFS research
Integrated immune, hormonal, and transcriptomic profiling reveals sex-specific dysregulation in long COVID patients with ME/CFS — Shima Shahbaz et al.
"Hormonal analysis shows reduced testosterone in [females] and estradiol in [males]. Transcriptomic data reveal neuroinflammatory signatures in [females], potentially explaining cognitive symptoms. We also identify biomarkers that distinguish [females] from [males] and correlate with sex-specific clinical symptoms."
Article | Thread
A Comparative Study of the Coagulation Systems and Inflammatory Profiles of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Patients with Long COVID — Hayley Emma Arron
"These techniques demonstrated how standard laboratory tests are inefficient in revealing pathological alterations in Long COVID and ME/CFS, and how the insignificance of these results has prompted researchers and healthcare professionals to question the validity of these conditions."
Thesis | Thread
Chronic Pain Prevalence, Characteristics, and Impact in United States Adults With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis — Jenna L. Adamowicz et al.
"even though the majority of individuals with CFS/ME experience pain that is chronic, there appears a sizable subset in which the experience of pain may be less pronounced."
Article | Thread
Post-Exertional Symptom Exacerbation after Sub-Maximal Exercise in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 — Berardi, Giovanni et al.
"the purpose of the current study was to characterize PESE using a daily trajectory rating of 8 commonly reported symptoms, before and for 7 days after, a moderate intensity exercise task in individuals with ME/CFS and PASC, when compared to matched controls."
Article | Thread
Long Covid research
Transcriptome analysis of classical blood cells reveals down-regulation of proinflammatory genes in the classical monocytes of Long-COVID patients — Fricke et al.
"UMAP clustering of cells revealed distinct expression profiles between patients and controls in classical and intermediate, but not non-classical, monocytes. Differential gene expression analysis, based on a fold change threshold greater than 3 and a p-value threshold below 10−18, identified 40 DEGs in classical, 13 in intermediate, and 6 in non-classical monocytes, while other cell types showed minimal changes."
Article | Thread
SARS-CoV-2 spike triggers TLR7-dependent endolysosome dysfunction and senescence in human astrocytes — Hasler et al.
"Notably, TLR7 knockdown abolished S1-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK MAPK, suggesting that activation of p38 and ERK occurs downstream of the S1-TLR7 interaction."
Article | Thread
Preventive effect of vaccination on long COVID in adolescents with SARS-CoV-2 infection — Thaweethai et al.
RECOVER study. "The risks of severe LC were 6.1% and 4.7% in unvaccinated and vaccinated participants, respectively [RR 0.77 (95 % CI: 0.48, 1.26)]."
Article | Thread
Optimizing the schedule of BNT162b2 COVID-19 against long COVID and associated quality of life losses — Kuodi et al.
"We found that individuals who received at least three vaccine doses before getting infected were less likely to report long COVID symptoms and had better quality of life. In contrast, vaccination after infection showed no benefit."
Article | Thread
Does C1 esterase inhibitor play a role in post COVID-19 neurological symptoms? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, proof-of-concept study — Melamed et al.
"In this study, a dysfunction in TLR signaling response (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6) was demonstrated in patients with SARS-CoV-2 post-viral fatigue syndrome, suggesting a possible dysregulation of innate immunity in these patients."
Article | Thread
Synopsis of 2024 VA Long COVID Clinical Guidance for U.S. Veterans: Part 1, Nervous System–Related Symptoms — Wander et al.
"Although we found the quantity and quality of evidence to be limited, in combination with other considerations, we used this evidence base and our framework to develop an approach to the management of Long COVID nervous system–related symptoms comprising 30 Evidence-informed Recommendations and 41 Good Practice Statements that we believe to be clinically useful and concordant with the evidence that we found."
Article | Thread
The second-order effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on pediatric populations — Lael M. Yonker et al.
"As viral infections affect millions of children every year, SARS-CoV-2 has given us a major opportunity to accelerate the scientific interest toward post-acute outcomes of infections. This will probably revolutionize the way we see current neglected conditions like Long Covid and post-viral Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndromes (ME/CFS)."
Article | Thread
Experiences of accessing primary care by those living with long Covid in New Zealand: A qualitative analysis — Sarah Rhodes and Christina Douglas
"With the current pressure on the NZ health system, and the failure of Government to provide dedicated funding for long Covid several undesirable outcomes look increasingly likely: inadequate support for patients presenting with this complex and disabling condition, even greater pressure on the primary care system, and wider health disparities, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples."
Article | Thread
What Can We Learn Four Years On? A Multi-Centre Service Evaluation Exploring Symptoms, Functional Impact, Recovery and Care Pathways in Long Covid — Cassie Lee et al.
"The persistent clinical and socio‐economic burden of LC is clear, with only 20.8% of participants working at pre‐infection capacity. Policymakers and service leaders should act to close the gap between LC service provision and patient need. There is a critical window of opportunity for ICBs to redesign services in collaboration with and informed by the patients' voice"
Article | Thread
Impact of long COVID phenotypes on quality of life following symptomatic omicron infection in Brazil: a machine learning analysis — Scolari et al.
"In this study, we investigated the phenotypic characteristics of patients with persistent symptoms three months after the initial infection"
Article | Thread
...........
S4ME social media: Forum, Mastodon, Bluesky
News, advocacy and articles
Australia - Emerge From Stigma to Science: Educating for Change
On Thursday 30 October, at Australian Parliament House, Emerge Australia hosted an ME/CFS and long COVID Action Forum. The forum brought together people with lived experience, researchers, clinicians, parliamentarians, and departmental representatives. Prof. Chris Ponting discusses the huge personal, social and economic burden and the essential requirement for countries to have a national ME/CFS strategy.
Emerge | YouTube | Thread
David Tuller Interview with Brian Hughes, professor of psychology at University of Galway in Ireland
A very interesting interview with professor Brian Hughes about his latest book "Psychology's Quiet Conservatism: How a Supposedly Woke Science Promotes Capitalism and Protects Privilege".
From the description on YouTube: "Professor Hughes has for years sough to counter the psychogenic framing of ME, ME/CFS, Long COVID, and related complex conditions--a theme he explores in the new book. In this interview, he explains why the psychogenic approach is fundamentally regressive and ends up depriving people of the medical care they need and deserve."
Interview l Thread
UK Goverment report Keep Britain Working
On 5 November 2025, the UK Government announced a new partnership with major employers to tackle rising economic inactivity linked to long-term sickness.
The ME Association welfare rights consultant, Ella Smith, raises concerns in an article, inviting comments. "The idea that work can always be retained with the right support fails to recognise the reality for those with severe or very fluctuating symptoms."
Government report | MEA article | Thread
UK ME Association provides useful resources for those in the UK with ME/CFS who want NHS funded influenza vaccination from a pharmacy.
Article | Thread
USA - Westword "Art Show It Comes in Waves Brings Long COVID Stories to Light"
Article discussing an art exhibition in Aurora, Colorado, which features artwork made by people with Long Covid. It Comes in Waves runs through December 30.
Article | Thread
Canada - Medscape "Canadian Cardiologists Must Step Up Care for Long COVID"
Report on an educational session from the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress (CCC) 2025 about cardiovascular issues associated with Long Covid.
Article | Thread
..............
Coming events
#MEAction - Two webinars on caregiving
Free tickets available on request.
"Top 10 Lessons from 20 Years of Caregiving webinar with Kim Moy"
Sunday, November 16, 3 pm EST/noon PST
Tickets | Thread
"Chronic Illness Caregiving for Youth, Teen, and Adult Children with Denise Lopez-Mojano"
Sunday, November 22, 3 pm EST/noon PST
Tickets | Thread
UK Action for ME Webinar: Final findings from the LOCOME Research Project
Monday 24 November at 3pm (UK time)
The LOCOME Project, a collaboration between PrecisionLife, Action for ME, and the University of Edinburgh, is nearing completion at the end of November. The project has used large-scale data analysis to explore genetic patterns that could help identify similarities and differences between ME/CFS and Long Covid. Open to all.
Article | Registration | Thread
..............
Research news
UK Edinburgh University PhD 3 year funded fellowship. Closing date 16th January 2026
Personalised blood-based biomarkers for ME/CFS symptom severity
"Samples would be collected as dried blood spots, provided in participants’ homes, and protein levels would be measured via Olink proximity extension assays"
Details | Thread
UK ME/CFS Biobank The ME Association reports from the biobank steering group meeting in September, including news on further sample collections and projects using the samples.
Article | Thread
UK ME Association Research: New funding awarded to PhD project that will identify key metabolites and infection markers in ME/CFS, funded by the MEA and UKRI, PhD candidate Aleyna Lumsden, under the supervision of Dr Bela Paizs and Professor Karl Morten, "using advanced informatics and mass spectrometry to investigate biological signatures of ME/CFS."
Article | Thread
Medscape Research Into ME/CFS Pathology Points to Possible Treatments -
Miriam E. Tucker
"At International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFS/ME) 2025, speakers summarized their research into the underlying pathomechanisms of ME/CFS and long COVID and the potential for treatment approaches specifically targeting those identified abnormalities."
Article | Thread
USA - Stanford Genome Technology Center
A playlist of recordings from the September 5 Community Symposium have been posted on YouTube.
Videos | Thread
..............
Research
ME/CFS research
Integrated immune, hormonal, and transcriptomic profiling reveals sex-specific dysregulation in long COVID patients with ME/CFS — Shima Shahbaz et al.
"Hormonal analysis shows reduced testosterone in [females] and estradiol in [males]. Transcriptomic data reveal neuroinflammatory signatures in [females], potentially explaining cognitive symptoms. We also identify biomarkers that distinguish [females] from [males] and correlate with sex-specific clinical symptoms."
Article | Thread
A Comparative Study of the Coagulation Systems and Inflammatory Profiles of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Patients with Long COVID — Hayley Emma Arron
"These techniques demonstrated how standard laboratory tests are inefficient in revealing pathological alterations in Long COVID and ME/CFS, and how the insignificance of these results has prompted researchers and healthcare professionals to question the validity of these conditions."
Thesis | Thread
Chronic Pain Prevalence, Characteristics, and Impact in United States Adults With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis — Jenna L. Adamowicz et al.
"even though the majority of individuals with CFS/ME experience pain that is chronic, there appears a sizable subset in which the experience of pain may be less pronounced."
Article | Thread
Post-Exertional Symptom Exacerbation after Sub-Maximal Exercise in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 — Berardi, Giovanni et al.
"the purpose of the current study was to characterize PESE using a daily trajectory rating of 8 commonly reported symptoms, before and for 7 days after, a moderate intensity exercise task in individuals with ME/CFS and PASC, when compared to matched controls."
Article | Thread
Long Covid research
Transcriptome analysis of classical blood cells reveals down-regulation of proinflammatory genes in the classical monocytes of Long-COVID patients — Fricke et al.
"UMAP clustering of cells revealed distinct expression profiles between patients and controls in classical and intermediate, but not non-classical, monocytes. Differential gene expression analysis, based on a fold change threshold greater than 3 and a p-value threshold below 10−18, identified 40 DEGs in classical, 13 in intermediate, and 6 in non-classical monocytes, while other cell types showed minimal changes."
Article | Thread
SARS-CoV-2 spike triggers TLR7-dependent endolysosome dysfunction and senescence in human astrocytes — Hasler et al.
"Notably, TLR7 knockdown abolished S1-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK MAPK, suggesting that activation of p38 and ERK occurs downstream of the S1-TLR7 interaction."
Article | Thread
Preventive effect of vaccination on long COVID in adolescents with SARS-CoV-2 infection — Thaweethai et al.
RECOVER study. "The risks of severe LC were 6.1% and 4.7% in unvaccinated and vaccinated participants, respectively [RR 0.77 (95 % CI: 0.48, 1.26)]."
Article | Thread
Optimizing the schedule of BNT162b2 COVID-19 against long COVID and associated quality of life losses — Kuodi et al.
"We found that individuals who received at least three vaccine doses before getting infected were less likely to report long COVID symptoms and had better quality of life. In contrast, vaccination after infection showed no benefit."
Article | Thread
Does C1 esterase inhibitor play a role in post COVID-19 neurological symptoms? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, proof-of-concept study — Melamed et al.
"In this study, a dysfunction in TLR signaling response (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6) was demonstrated in patients with SARS-CoV-2 post-viral fatigue syndrome, suggesting a possible dysregulation of innate immunity in these patients."
Article | Thread
Synopsis of 2024 VA Long COVID Clinical Guidance for U.S. Veterans: Part 1, Nervous System–Related Symptoms — Wander et al.
"Although we found the quantity and quality of evidence to be limited, in combination with other considerations, we used this evidence base and our framework to develop an approach to the management of Long COVID nervous system–related symptoms comprising 30 Evidence-informed Recommendations and 41 Good Practice Statements that we believe to be clinically useful and concordant with the evidence that we found."
Article | Thread
The second-order effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on pediatric populations — Lael M. Yonker et al.
"As viral infections affect millions of children every year, SARS-CoV-2 has given us a major opportunity to accelerate the scientific interest toward post-acute outcomes of infections. This will probably revolutionize the way we see current neglected conditions like Long Covid and post-viral Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndromes (ME/CFS)."
Article | Thread
Experiences of accessing primary care by those living with long Covid in New Zealand: A qualitative analysis — Sarah Rhodes and Christina Douglas
"With the current pressure on the NZ health system, and the failure of Government to provide dedicated funding for long Covid several undesirable outcomes look increasingly likely: inadequate support for patients presenting with this complex and disabling condition, even greater pressure on the primary care system, and wider health disparities, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples."
Article | Thread
What Can We Learn Four Years On? A Multi-Centre Service Evaluation Exploring Symptoms, Functional Impact, Recovery and Care Pathways in Long Covid — Cassie Lee et al.
"The persistent clinical and socio‐economic burden of LC is clear, with only 20.8% of participants working at pre‐infection capacity. Policymakers and service leaders should act to close the gap between LC service provision and patient need. There is a critical window of opportunity for ICBs to redesign services in collaboration with and informed by the patients' voice"
Article | Thread
Impact of long COVID phenotypes on quality of life following symptomatic omicron infection in Brazil: a machine learning analysis — Scolari et al.
"In this study, we investigated the phenotypic characteristics of patients with persistent symptoms three months after the initial infection"
Article | Thread
...........
S4ME social media: Forum, Mastodon, Bluesky