UK: News from ME Research UK

ME Research UK and the ME Association have announced funding for a study that aims to create a diagnostic test for ME/CFS. This 12-month study will build upon initial findings of white blood cell impedance in the disease by using improved methods in a larger cohort, in the hope that it will result in a reliable, repeatable, and low-cost diagnostic tool using the electrical signature from a simple blood test.

Read more:
https://www.meresearch.org.uk/me-re...-aims-to-create-a-diagnostic-test-for-me-cfs/


“Both our group and the Davis group have identified electrical variations in ME/CFS cells compared to healthy controls. This is itself highly significant, representing a clear marker of pathology.”

 

ME Research UK – February 2024 e-newsletter

https://www.meresearch.org.uk/me-research-uk-february-2024-e-newsletter/

 

ME Research UK – March 2024 e-newsletter
https://www.meresearch.org.uk/me-research-uk-march-2024-e-newsletter/

 

A Griffith University research team has successfully applied for a $438,000 ME Research UK grant to track the progression of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).


https://news.griffith.edu.au/2024/04/11/me-cfs-progression-in-focus-with-438000-grant/

A Griffith University research team has successfully applied for a $438,000 ME Research UK grant to track the progression of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The study will use an ultra-high field 7 Tesla (7T) MRI to capture a clearer depiction of brain regions and detect subtle brain changes in ME/CFS patients.

 

ME Research UK:
PhD candidate Tina Katsaros – who is working alongside her supervisor Dr Sarah Annesley on a project funded by ME Research UK, has spoken about her research on an Australian radio show called “Einstein A GO-Go” (Triple R - 3RRR 102.7FM).

The show aims to explore “the wonders of science and its impact on the world”, and in this specific episode, the host heard from 20 different PhD students in 20 minutes.
In the time allocated to her, Tina not only discussed her PhD study entitled “Cause-effect relationships in the mitochondrial energy inefficiency in ME/CFS”, but also highlighted the complexity of ME/CFS, and delays in the diagnostic process experienced by many people with the disease.

Listen to Tina talk about her project : https://bit.ly/49XMtQv

More information about the ME Research UK funded research Tina is working upon can be found on our website: https://meres.uk/LaTrobePhD

 

ME Research UK:

Our Fundraising Focus highlighting upcoming fundraising events by wonderful supporters this month is now available on our website - https://www.meresearch.org.uk/fundraising-focus-april-2024/ From Walk for ME to #bluesunday2024 & even an online raffle for handcrafted and unique items! #pwME #MECFS

 

ME Research UK

For ease of access, we have collated all our symptom postings from ME Awareness Week into one article:
https://www.meresearch.org.uk/what-makes-me-cfs-so-debilitating/

 

From ME Research UK:

ME Research UK is delighted to announce that we have awarded funding to Prof. François Jérôme Authier and colleagues for a new study assessing neurocognitive impairment in people with ME/CFS. By analysing data from multiple neuropsychological and neuroimaging assessments, the researchers aim to establish a detailed picture of cognitive abnormalities in ME/CFS, and whether they correlate with morphological and functional changes in the brain. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3yNR3Uq

 

ME Research UK

ME Research UK is delighted to announce that we have awarded funding to Dr Rob Wüst at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands for a new study aiming to identify microclots in the muscle and blood of people with ME/CFS.

Dr Wüst (photo by Patrick Siemons) made waves recently with his research which found multiple abnormalities in muscle structure and function in people with long COVID, as well as the presence of microscopic clots (microclots), which increased after an exercise test to induce post-exertional malaise (PEM).

Given the similarity in symptoms and potential link between ME/CFS and long COVID, could there be a similar picture in people with ME/CFS? This is the question Dr Wüst and colleagues want to answer in this new study in which they will assess muscle biopsy samples taken from people with ME/CFS before and after inducing PEM.

Their findings may help improve our understanding of PEM in ME/CFS, and possibly pave the way towards new therapies.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/wust068

This project was made possible thanks to the generosity and fundraising of our supporters, including those who donated during 2023's Big Give campaign.