Zaher Nahle leaves Solve Me/cfs

[Milo]

This one is a shocker. What a huge loss. i wonder whether he will remain in the field or not.

https://solvecfs.org/dr-zaher-nahle-leaves-smci/

Dear Friends,

Zaher Nahle, who has served as SMCI’s Vice President for Research and Chief Scientific Officer for over two and a half years, has left the organization. In his time here, Dr. Nahle built the Ramsay Award grant program; collaborated in the new NIH consortia with Dr. Lipkin of Columbia, Dr. Hanson of Cornell, and Dr. Peter Rowe of Johns Hopkins and Dr. Rick Williams of RTI; created the new PEER patient registry; and developed numerous new ME-related research relationships across the world. We will always be indebted to Dr. Nahle for his work.

SMCI has engaged an outstanding, science-focused recruiting firm to help us find a scientist to manage and grow our research work. In the interim period, the SMCI research portfolio will be overseen by me in close consultation with SMCI’s Research Advisory Council, board of directors, and Scientific Administrator, Allison Ramiller.

The Solve ME/CFS Initiative will continue all aspects of its science and discovery programs including the Ramsay Awards, SMCI-Directed projects, and work with the new NIH Consortium Centers, during the transition to a new Research Director.

Change is never easy, especially regarding such an important position in our organization. And at the same time, I’m confident that we will find a scientist with prominence and passion to fill the position.

We will never rest until we find treatments and a cure for ME/CFS. As always, thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Carol Head
President and CEO

 

[mango]

Oh no Why? What happened?

 

[Alvin]

Oh no Why? What happened?

Will they tell us i wonder?

 

[Esther12]

I wonder why. No hint of him planning to leave in this profile from a couple of weeks ago: https://jaxmecfs.com/2018/02/06/adv...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

[Diwi9]

I've donated to SMCI because of him...damn. I hope he sticks with ME/CFS...and I hope he knows how individually admired he is by patients.

 

[Cinders66]

A real shock and a real blow. No information given as to why or where he's going. Maybe the field was too frustrating but I thought he was making a real personal difference

 

[Sasha]

Nooooooooooooooo!

 

[Sean]

Hmm.

 

[Adrian]

I wonder why.

He strikes me as someone who is ambitious. I wonder if he just felt he had set up some initiatives and that was as far as he could get. Sometimes different skills (and interests) are needed to set things up and to keep them running.

 

[Trish]

I agree, @Adrian, I don't think a job like this, vital though it is to us, would be seen as the pinnacle of an ambitious scientist's career. I imagine he has found something new to move on to, and I wish him well and thank him for all he has done.

 

[Andy]

I agree, @Adrian, I don't think a job like this, vital though it is to us, would be seen as the pinnacle of an ambitious scientist's career. I imagine he has found something new to move on to, and I wish him well and thank him for all he has done.

From what I've been hearing behind the scenes it's pretty much this, another opportunity opened up for him and so he moved on. It's disappointing of course but, in my opinion, he did a lot of good in his time with Solve.

 

[MEMarge]

I was thinking he probably got a better offer.
At least as the field is changing and getting more interest etc, others with lots to offer should be looking to apply. I expect the ME docs and scientists in US have already put out feelers.

 

[Hutan]

I imagine he has found something new to move on to, and I wish him well and thank him for all he has done.

Yes. And even if he doesn't immediately continue with ME/CFS, that's another informed and sympathetic bright science administrator out in the world who may one day be in charge of allocating government or philanthropic funds to medical research. Or may identify a tool or a researcher that, when combined with the resources already applied to ME/CFS, makes the breakthrough.

So long as the next person to the SCMI role is good, perhaps it's a net gain in the long run.

 

[Joel]

I rate Zaher Nahle very highly. I hope he is moving on to something else in ME/CFS.

 

[Cinders66]

Perhaps , and I include myself in this, we should get behind SMCI a bit more as a community too. I tend to focus on changing the negatives, especially as in uk there's so many, rather than supporting the positives, but that charity has become a fantastic thing due in large part to Dr Z N.

 

[Rick Sanchez]

Perhaps , and I include myself in this, we should get behind SMCI a bit more as a community too. I tend to focus on changing the negatives, especially as in uk there's so many, rather than supporting the positives, but that charity has become a fantastic thing due in large part to Dr Z N.

I agree. I really don't think they get the credit they deserve in the ME/CFS community.

 

[Andy]

Perhaps , and I include myself in this, we should get behind SMCI a bit more as a community too. I tend to focus on changing the negatives, especially as in uk there's so many, rather than supporting the positives, but that charity has become a fantastic thing due in large part to Dr Z N.

My opinion is that they don't get the same level of visible support from patients due to them doing a lot of the essential work which doesn't have the wow factor of big research efforts that others engage in. Rather than fund fewer, larger studies they have looked to fund more but smaller studies, in part to increase the number of researchers working on ME, which is likely to be what we need more than just funding a few high profile researchers.

 

[Trish]

I agree individuals can make a huge difference. Zaher Nahle has done a great job at Solve, and their approach of seed funding small pilot projects to develop research and researchers is great, along with their educational and political role.

Similarly but differently Charles Shepherd with the MEA in the UK has worked hard and effectively as a volunteer at promoting ME research through the MEA research fund, helping establish the UK ME biobank, and working to get political and medical education change.

I hope Solve find someone equally effective to carry on the work. I get the impression the organisation is strong enough to cope with a change of Research leader.

 

[Cinders66]

My opinion is that they don't get the same level of visible support from patients due to them doing a lot of the essential work which doesn't have the wow factor of big research efforts that others engage in. Rather than fund fewer, larger studies they have looked to fund more but smaller studies, in part to increase the number of researchers working on ME, which is likely to be what we need more than just funding a few high profile researchers.

True but they're also strong on the infrastructure, info and advocacy side too but often their posts on Facebook just get a handful of comments, & when you consider the size of America. Maybe, as you say others get attention, unrest more on that front. They're not a support group like uk charities are, but they deserve support themselves, they have mine, I'm not a fan of the long view/collaborate with establishment rather than confront approach of uk charities ((sorry Trish)

Anyway I wish Dr ZN well and thank him.

 

[Andy]

So I contacted Dr Nahle direct and he's allowed me to pass the following on.

I am taking on the leadership of a major [..] disease organization that focuses on arthritic and rheumatic diseases (autoimmune and inflammatory including fibro and mecfs)...bigger platform and an opportunity serve ME better through an interdisciplinary approach

He's limited as to what he can announce for the moment solely as the person currently in post hasn't announced their retirement yet.

So disappointing for Solve but it looks like he will be able to expand the number of researchers looking at ME.