News in Brief - October 2026
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Week beginning 5th October 2026
News, advocacy and articles
The Sick Times Biological pathways and mechanistic trials centred at new Long COVID conference in Amsterdam
David Tuller was present at a recent large Long Covid conference in Amsterdam and has written this report. The conference was organised by The International Society for Long COVID and Post-Acute Infections Syndromes.
Article l Thread
Solve ME Applications Open for 2026 Ramsay Research Grants
The Ramsay Research Grant program "supports innovative, early-stage research aimed at advancing the biological understanding of infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCIs), with a particular focus on ME/CFS and Long Covid." Applications accepted through Friday, Nov. 13.
Article | Thread
The Sick Times Kids with Long COVID co-created their own superhero comic book
The book, called Long Covid Superheroes, showcases "the bravery of asking for help, resting, and being compassionate with yourself and others."
Article | Thread
Trial by Error by David Tuller Springer Nature Removes Description of "Fatigue" Patients as "Combative" and "Reproachful" - UPDATED
A German paper on chronic fatigue syndrome published by Springer Nature contained derogative language about patients. This resulted into a joint statement with objection from many healthcare providers and scientists. It later turned out the characterisations had been added by a psychiatrist who was responsible editor of the project the paper was part of.
Article l Thread
.......
Coming events
Bateman Horne Center Free Online Support Group
Tuesday, October 20, 1 - 2 pm MDT
Topic: Figuring Out Relationships while Chronically Ill
Advance registration required, registration link shows time in your time zone.
Registration | Thread
Solve ME Webinar The SIGNAL Study: Using Home-Based Treatments to Advance ME/CFS and Long Covid Research
Tuesday, November 10, 3-4 pm Pacific Time / 6-7 pm Eastern Time
Announcement | Thread
.......
Research news and articles
Germany
The German Society for ME/CFS (Deutsche Gesellschaft für ME/CFS) has its own research program to fund smaller exploratory studies.€30,000 is awarded each year. Only researchers affiliated with an institution in Germany can apply. The deadline for applications is 15 November.
Article (German) | Thread
USA - NIH RECOVER New pathobiology studies look to accelerate RECOVER’s progress
"Researchers aim to build on past findings in ways that can help inform future clinical decision-making for people at high risk of or already experiencing Long COVID."
Article | Thread
.......
Research
ME/CFS research
searchMECFS: An online, interactive platform to facilitate secondary use of biospecimens and associated research data from myalgic encephalomyelitis studies — Barnette et al
"This publication introduces searchMECFS, a free, interactive online platform developed by the Data Management and Coordinating Center of the ME/CFS Research Network, with funding from the National Institutes of Health."
Article | Thread
Exploratory clinical and immunological changes following Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab administration in immunodeficient patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated ME/CFS and persistent circulating spike protein — SEIDEL et al
"no conclusive reduction in circulating spike protein or improvement in clinical outcomes was demonstrated."
Article | Thread
Characterizing Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Symptom Burden, Functional Impairment, and Comparison With Adults in the Multi-Site Clinical Assessment of ME/CFS (MCAM) Study — Weaver et al
"Educational disruption was particularly marked. Almost two-thirds of participants received homebound or homeschool instruction, nearly 90% missed school because of illness, and most reported limitations in educational, social, and recreational activities."
Article | Thread
Patient's knowledge, doctor's ignorance: The production of knowledge about myalgic encephalomyelitis — de Canson
"this understanding is limited, in virtue of the fact that much of the scientific research required to fully elucidate and solve ME cannot be done by people with ME, given the substantial institutional, material, and technical resources it demands."
Article | Thread
Long Covid research
Choroid plexus enlargement in Post-COVID-19 syndrome is linked to Serum-Induced cytokine secretion in human hippocampal progenitors — Martins et al
"By demonstrating that CP enlargement tracks functional immune effects in human neural cells rather than peripheral cytokine concentrations, our findings highlight the importance of moving beyond circulating biomarkers to understand immune–brain coupling in post-infectious syndromes."
Article | Thread
Handgrip strength parameters as predictors of post-COVID syndrome severity and muscle weakness in an observational study — Wallraven et al
"Patients with ME/CFS exhibited lower mean HGS (p = 0.031), greater fatigability (p = 0.042), and poorer recovery (p = 0.048) compared with patients without ME/CFS." "Furthermore, HGS parameters were significantly correlated with PCS severity and patient-reported outcome measures"
Article | Thread
............
S4ME social media: Forum, Mastodon, Bluesky
News, advocacy and articles
The Sick Times Biological pathways and mechanistic trials centred at new Long COVID conference in Amsterdam
David Tuller was present at a recent large Long Covid conference in Amsterdam and has written this report. The conference was organised by The International Society for Long COVID and Post-Acute Infections Syndromes.
Article l Thread
Solve ME Applications Open for 2026 Ramsay Research Grants
The Ramsay Research Grant program "supports innovative, early-stage research aimed at advancing the biological understanding of infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCIs), with a particular focus on ME/CFS and Long Covid." Applications accepted through Friday, Nov. 13.
Article | Thread
The Sick Times Kids with Long COVID co-created their own superhero comic book
The book, called Long Covid Superheroes, showcases "the bravery of asking for help, resting, and being compassionate with yourself and others."
Article | Thread
Trial by Error by David Tuller Springer Nature Removes Description of "Fatigue" Patients as "Combative" and "Reproachful" - UPDATED
A German paper on chronic fatigue syndrome published by Springer Nature contained derogative language about patients. This resulted into a joint statement with objection from many healthcare providers and scientists. It later turned out the characterisations had been added by a psychiatrist who was responsible editor of the project the paper was part of.
Article l Thread
.......
Coming events
Bateman Horne Center Free Online Support Group
Tuesday, October 20, 1 - 2 pm MDT
Topic: Figuring Out Relationships while Chronically Ill
Advance registration required, registration link shows time in your time zone.
Registration | Thread
Solve ME Webinar The SIGNAL Study: Using Home-Based Treatments to Advance ME/CFS and Long Covid Research
Tuesday, November 10, 3-4 pm Pacific Time / 6-7 pm Eastern Time
Announcement | Thread
.......
Research news and articles
Germany
The German Society for ME/CFS (Deutsche Gesellschaft für ME/CFS) has its own research program to fund smaller exploratory studies.€30,000 is awarded each year. Only researchers affiliated with an institution in Germany can apply. The deadline for applications is 15 November.
Article (German) | Thread
USA - NIH RECOVER New pathobiology studies look to accelerate RECOVER’s progress
"Researchers aim to build on past findings in ways that can help inform future clinical decision-making for people at high risk of or already experiencing Long COVID."
Article | Thread
.......
Research
ME/CFS research
searchMECFS: An online, interactive platform to facilitate secondary use of biospecimens and associated research data from myalgic encephalomyelitis studies — Barnette et al
"This publication introduces searchMECFS, a free, interactive online platform developed by the Data Management and Coordinating Center of the ME/CFS Research Network, with funding from the National Institutes of Health."
Article | Thread
Exploratory clinical and immunological changes following Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab administration in immunodeficient patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated ME/CFS and persistent circulating spike protein — SEIDEL et al
"no conclusive reduction in circulating spike protein or improvement in clinical outcomes was demonstrated."
Article | Thread
Characterizing Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Symptom Burden, Functional Impairment, and Comparison With Adults in the Multi-Site Clinical Assessment of ME/CFS (MCAM) Study — Weaver et al
"Educational disruption was particularly marked. Almost two-thirds of participants received homebound or homeschool instruction, nearly 90% missed school because of illness, and most reported limitations in educational, social, and recreational activities."
Article | Thread
Patient's knowledge, doctor's ignorance: The production of knowledge about myalgic encephalomyelitis — de Canson
"this understanding is limited, in virtue of the fact that much of the scientific research required to fully elucidate and solve ME cannot be done by people with ME, given the substantial institutional, material, and technical resources it demands."
Article | Thread
Long Covid research
Choroid plexus enlargement in Post-COVID-19 syndrome is linked to Serum-Induced cytokine secretion in human hippocampal progenitors — Martins et al
"By demonstrating that CP enlargement tracks functional immune effects in human neural cells rather than peripheral cytokine concentrations, our findings highlight the importance of moving beyond circulating biomarkers to understand immune–brain coupling in post-infectious syndromes."
Article | Thread
Handgrip strength parameters as predictors of post-COVID syndrome severity and muscle weakness in an observational study — Wallraven et al
"Patients with ME/CFS exhibited lower mean HGS (p = 0.031), greater fatigability (p = 0.042), and poorer recovery (p = 0.048) compared with patients without ME/CFS." "Furthermore, HGS parameters were significantly correlated with PCS severity and patient-reported outcome measures"
Article | Thread
............
S4ME social media: Forum, Mastodon, Bluesky