What ME/CFS research, funded by UK sources, is currently in process (as of end Jan 2022)?

This is an update to this thread, What ME/CFS research, funded by UK sources, is currently in process (as of end June 2019)?, this time looking at research in progress as at time of posting.

I'm afraid that compared to the original thread it won't have the same care and attention paid to formatting and explanatory text, but hopefully it should still offer the essential information.

ETA: I may come back and add the missing links to our forum threads discussing the various projects at a later stage.

 

Charity funded research


Action for ME

Source: https://www.actionforme.org.uk/research-and-campaigns/our-research-work/our-projects-and-phds/

A University of Edinburgh PhD Studentship comparing immune cells (T cells) from people with M.E. with those from controls.
https://www.actionforme.org.uk/rese...our-projects-and-phds/comparing-immune-cells/

A brain inflammation PhD Studentship supervised by Prof Neil Harrison, now based at Cardiff University.
https://www.actionforme.org.uk/rese...rojects-and-phds/studying-brain-inflammation/

Our 2021 application call for a third biomedical PhD Studentship ran from early January to late February. We will announce the award for this in spring/summer. https://www.actionforme.org.uk/rese...h-work/our-projects-and-phds/phd-studentship/

As part of our trans-Atlantic partnership with US charity Solve ME, we are funding a two-year, jointly funded, £120,000 fellowship for early-stage career researches, working with Prof Chris Ponting, University of Edinburgh; and Prof Liz Worthey, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/trans-atlantic-research-fellowship-announced/

 

Invest in ME

Source: http://www.investinme.org/ce-projoverview.shtml

A role for a leaky gut and the intestinal microbiota in the pathophysiology in ME, Simon Carding et al, Quadram Institute

“This project will determine if alterations in intestinal barrier function and/or microbiota exist in ME patients, and whether microbe-driven inflammatory responses can provide an explanation for the pathophysiology of ME.”

http://www.investinme.org/ce-gm-foundation.shtml


Defining autoimmune aspects of ME/CFS, Simon Carding et al, Quadram Institute

“The aim of this PhD project is to test the hypothesis that ME is an autoimmune disorder originating in the gut as a consequence of altered intestinal permeability (leaky gut) leading to exposure of the immune system to commensal gut microbes and their products and the generation of pathogenic (auto) antibodies cross-reactive with antigens expressed in the central nervous system (CNS).”

http://www.investinme.org/ce-gm-phd2.shtml


Gut viruses and ME/CFS, University of East Anglia

“This PhD project will investigate whether the underlying causes of ME are related to the presence of specific virus populations within the gut virobiota. Using high throughput DNA/RNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics tools we will determine if and how both resident gut bacteria and virus populations changes with disease progression and if a distinct virobiota signature can be identified in ME patients.”

http://www.investinme.org/ce-gm-phd3.shtml


RESTORE-ME - Clinical Trial of FMT

To determine the efficacy and safety of faecal microbiome transplantation as for ME/CFS: RESTORE-ME.

http://www.investinme.org/ce-proj3.shtml


The intestinal virome and viral immune responses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients after faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)

This PhD project will investigate whether bacteriotherapy and manipulation of the gut microbiome can provide a possible treatment for ME.

http://www.investinme.org/ce-proj4.shtml

 

ME Association

Source: https://meassociation.org.uk/research/research-projects/


1. Dr Nicola Clague-Baker, University of Leicester

The ME Association is excited to announce a new research study that will examine the feasibility of measuring various physiological data during daily activity in people with M.E. at home.

The study is titled: “Feasibility of investigating oxygen consumption (VO2), Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, lactic acid levels and activity levels of people with ME during normal daily activities.”

The research will be led by Dr Nicola Clague-Baker, an Associate Professor of Physiotherapy and lecturer at the University of Leicester.

Recruitment has been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but is expected to begin by the end of this year or early in 2021. Participants will be recruited online once ethical approval has been granted.

Dr Clague-Baker will carry out this feasibility study alongside colleagues from Physios 4 ME and with help from Dr Betsy Keller from Ithica College in New York.

RRF Investment = £30,000

https://meassociation.org.uk/research/research-projects/current-studies/


2. Dr Karl Morten et al., Universities of Oxford and Newcastle

Scientists from the Universities of Oxford and Newcastle are spending 12 months analysing nearly 300 blood samples from the UK ME/CFS Biobank to look for small molecular clues known as metabolites. These are left behind after chemical reactions have taken place at a cellular level.

It is hoped that this research will identify patterns of metabolites that could help to form either a diagnostic test for ME/CFS or help to sub-group people that come under the ME/CFS umbrella…

RRF investment = £100,000

https://meassociation.org.uk/research/research-projects/current-studies/


3. Dr Luis Nacul et al., LSHTM ME Biobank team and University College London

This research study will further examine both immune system dysfunction in ME/CFS and defects in the way that energy is being produced at a cellular level…

• It will investigate how abnormalities in this part of the immune system are linked with evidence that is now emerging of a disturbance in the way that energy is being produced at a cellular level in ME/CFS…
  
  
• It will draw on the expertise not only of the CureME clinical research team but also of other experts in immunology at the LSHTM.
  

This research will also involve a small pilot collaboration with Dr Christopher Armstrong’s research team in Australia – who are looking at metabolic (chemical) changes in the blood that occur during energy production…

RRF investment = c.£50,000

https://meassociation.org.uk/research/research-projects/current-studies/

 

ME Research UK

Source: https://www.meresearch.org.uk/research/current-projects/

Current projects

• Infectious triggers and mitochondrial dysfunction in ME/CFS
  Dr Bhupesh Prusty, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg
  
  
• Cell-type specificity, molecular scope and epigenetic basis for mitochondrial and cellular dysfunction in ME/CFS
  Dr Sarah Annesley, La Trobe University, Melbourne
  
  
• ELUCIDATE: Exploring pain and autonomic dysfunction in ME/CFS and temporomandibular disorders
  Mr James Allison, Newcastle University
  
  
• Investigating brain-stem dysfunction in ME/CFS using 7-Tesla MRI
  Dr Leighton Barnden, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University
  
  
• Analysing antibody responses against EBV-derived antigens in ME/CFS
  Dr Nuno Sepúlveda & Prof. Carmen Scheibenbogen, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Charité Universitätmedizin Berlin
  
  
• The effect of activated HERVs and the associated immune response in severe ME/CFS
  Prof. Elisa Oltra, Catholic University of Valencia
  
  
• The role of epigenetic modification of BDNF and HDACs in pain and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS
  Prof. Jo Nijs and Prof. Lode Godderis, Vrije Univeristeit Brussel and University of Leuven
  
  
• Investigating sensory processing and cognitive function in people with ME: a pilot study
  Dr Sanjay Kumar, Oxford Brookes University
  
  
• Tracking peripheral immune cell infiltration of the brain in ME
  Prof. Jarred Younger, University of Alabama
  
  
• Combatting oxidative stress
  Prof. Faisel Khan, University of Dundee

 

Public Funding

Medical Research Council (and others)
Source: https://gtr.ukri.org/


DecodeME - "A genome-wide association study of myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)"
Funders project page: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=MC_PC_20005
Project website: www.decodeme.org.uk
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/decodeme-uk-me-cfs-dna-study-underway.15604/#post-268677


Stress reactivity in people suffering from chronic fatigue
Funders project page: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2281613
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/phd-p...ffering-from-chronic-fatigue-2019-2023.24333/


Multi-stakeholder activity management for children with Chronic Fatigue
Funders project page: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2452326
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/phd-p...hildren-with-chronic-fatigue-2020-2024.24334/


A Mixed Method Exploration of the Association between Autism and Central Sensitivity Syndromes
Funders project page: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2104238
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/stude...-sensitivity-syndromes-sarah-grant-kcl.10121/


Glucocorticoid dynamics in health and disease
Funders project page: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=MR/R010919/1
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/trial...disease-lightman-university-of-bristol.10120/


Structure-based drug design against a biosecurity pathogen BB/M009122/1
Funders project page: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2579050
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/phd-p...curity-pathogen-bb-m009122-1-2021-2025.24336/


A mixed-methods investigation of the role of illness perceptions in endometriosis
[This project mentions CFS but it is not the subject]
Funders project page: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2434262
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/phd-p...perceptions-in-endometriosis-2020-2023.24337/



National Institute of Health Research

Source: https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/


Depression in paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME)
Funders project page:https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/DRF-2016-09-021
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/event...ndrome-cfs-dr-maria-loades-28-jan-2020.12984/


Measuring Health in Children with CFS/ME: Refinement, application and evaluation of new PROM (PEACH) in routine practice.
Funders project page: https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR200509
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/in-pr...each-in-routine-practice-crawley-et-al.20930/


Investigating the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of using FITNET to treat paediatric CFS/ME in the UK
Funders project page: https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/14/192/109
Forum thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/inves...tric-cfs-me-2018-crawley-et-al-protocol.2592/

 

All those projects, and I only like the one studying brain inflammation.

 

This thread is really useful, and I haven't come across it before.

The 2019 thread is in the 'General ME/CFS news' forum. This thead is in the 'General ME/CFS discussion' forum (which is rather sparse).

I would suggest the best location for both threads is in the 'ME/CFS research news' forum. Can both threads please be moved there?
Done. [Thanks!]

I am considering starting a small project to try and keep a record of funded studies and researchers. I'm not sure if it'll happen or not, but if it does then this thread will help.