Press Release Toronto – August 28, 2016 – “This is ludicrous!” writes Dr. Ian Hyams about the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) decision to deny funding for a networking grant for the neurological disease Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Dr. Hyams, Medical Director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Clinic, expressed further concern stating that “the
Robert Naviaux, at researcher at University of California, San Diego, published a landmark paper yesterday on the metabolites of patients with ME/CFS. It made news around the world. Below, an in-depth analysis of the paper’s findings and its implications. Note: some of the information below is speculative, linking Naviaux’s findings to other research. Findings not
With the help of our community’s ingenuity, strength, and indomitable spirit, #MEAction has: Spearheaded a petition to release the PACE trial data, garnering over 12,000 signatures. This was presented in the recent FOI request to release PACE data as evidence of peaceful patient involvement Launched the worldwide protest #MillionsMissing in 12 locations to raise awareness
The name of Australian patient Alem Matthees has become familiar in the last few days since a tribunal ruled that Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) must release to him the anonymised raw data from the PACE trial. Matthees requested in March 2014 under the Freedom of Information Act. The decision is widely regarded as
A tribunal panel has ordered Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) to release anonymised data from the PACE trial to Mr. Alem Matthees, a patient who requested it. The ruling has important implications for CFS patients both in the UK and worldwide. The David-vs-Goliath outcome represents the first successful attempt to begin to counter the
A few years after getting ill, I discovered that I can write interesting stories about things that happen inside or close to my home. For instance about birds or cats visiting our garden (preferably not at the same time), books, music or even what we had for dinner. This time it is about my shoes, my empty shoes. Who needs shoes while lying on the sofa, anyway?
This is the second part of the RFI Poll Report. To see the Part 1, click here. The Need for an Inclusive Model of Research Severe patients The inclusion of severe patients in research emerged as a theme in stakeholder comments. Severe patients will likely present with gross biological abnormalities, and therefore present a significant
On ME Awareness day this year, 12th May, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) opened the UK ME/CFS Biobank for business, with blood samples available from 300 patients now, and there will soon be samples for over 200 controls. The ready availability of samples for large numbers of well-characterised patients and controls
Columbia University – Center for Infection and Immunity has seriously upped the ante on the initial microbe discovery project in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Their impressive, rigorous new study could point the way to diagnostic tests, and even treatments – but first they need the funds to complete the work.
Science writer Julie Rehmeyer presented a critique of the PACE trial to North America’s largest gathering of statisticians in Chicago earlier this week. Her talk was titled, “Bad Statistics, Bad Reporting, Bad Impact on Patients: The Story of the PACE trial”. Rehmeyer explained to the 200-strong audience some of the problems with the trial, including
