Author: Sasha Nimmo

$1M Biobank Project for Australia

A charitable trust, the Mason Foundation, is asking researchers to submit proposals for a biobank and patient registry as well as a research project that uses the data and specimens. The trust will grant $200,000 a year for five years for the biobank project, $1 million in total. Applications are now open and close on 30 April 2019.

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Missing No More: Improving the Lives of People with ME and CFS

Senator Jordon Steele-John has announced the Australian Greens’ policy on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), planning to commit $15 million to biomedical research, a national summit, better access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and money for advocacy organisations. This policy is welcomed by the ME and CFS community in Australia. The Australian Greens

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Australia: School Study on Teenagers with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A recent study of Australian teenagers with chronic fatigue syndrome found CFS impacted their development of academic, cognitive and social skills. Students with CFS missed an average of 42% of classes over a term, 37% more than their healthy peers. The study recommends school staff be trained to understand chronic fatigue syndrome and its impact

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Meet the Scientists: Australia’s Prof. Don Staines

‘Meet the Scientists’ is a series of interviews with researchers working on ME and chronic fatigue syndrome. We ask them about their current research and get to meet the people working to improve our health. The series introduces early career researchers through to interviewing scientists and clinicians who have been working on the problems for decades.

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Study Examines Link between Immune Dysfunction and Metabolism in ME

This article was first published on ME Australia.  An international collaboration of scientists, including Fane Mensah, Jo Cambridge and Australia’s Chris Armstrong, investigated the relationship between CD24 expression and B cell maturation and found CD24 expression on B cells is related to energy metabolism and that its role differs between B cell subsets. The study

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Australia: National Committee will Issue Report on ME and CFS

The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Advisory Committee, set up by the National Health and Medical Research Council to advise the government on research and clinical guidelines, has one more meeting before releasing their report for public consultation. The ME and CFS Advisory Committee will be finalising the report at the next meeting. The

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Australia: Macquarie University Study will look for Hypochondria and Somatic Symptoms in CFS, Fibro and MCS

Macquarie University are recruiting people with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders and multiple chemical sensitivity for a study measuring somatic symptoms, hypochondria, anxiety and depression, catastophising and co-morbid diseases.  The study was approved by the University’s ethics department. Psychiatrists at Macquarie University in Sydney sought 1,000 people for the one-year longitudinal study. The study

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Australia: Three Senators Form Parliamentary Friendship Group for ME and CFS

Three senators have formed a Parliamentary Friends of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) group in Australia’s federal parliament. The Parliamentary Friendship group is co-chaired by Western Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John,  Tasmanian Liberal Senator Jonathan Duniam and Queensland Labor Senator Claire Moore. This group will provide a forum for members of the House of

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Australia: Mason Foundation Explores Funding ME and CFS Biobank

Most of Australia’s medical research funding for ME and CFS comes from the Mason Foundation, who are currently looking at whether they will fund a biobank or a patient registry for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and/or chronic fatigue syndrome samples. Recently the Mason Foundation updated stakeholders on the decision-making process. This is important because if a biobank

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Who is advising the Australian government on ME and CFS research and treatment guidelines?

Australian research is underfunded and the government’s clinical guidelines are outdated so the Australian government’s ME and CFS advisory committee is welcomed. It provides an important opportunity to call on the government to fund biomedical research and to give Australian doctors desperately needed clinical guidance. However, there are mixed perspectives on the committee.

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