Accelerate CFS Research Initiative

The field of CFS research is at a pivotal moment—a defining moment—for CFS, with critical opportunities to propel the field forward in unprecedented ways and to accelerate the rate of progress. The first phase of our fund-raising effort attracted $1 million in support by August 2008. Now we've launched the second phase with a goal of raising $5 million by Dec. 31, 2010.

The CFIDS Association is actively building the capacity of the scientific community to transform CFS into a condition that is treatable, preventable and curable. Under the guidance of our full-time scientific director, Dr. Suzanne Vernon, the multifaceted research program is:

• Funding innovative laboratory and clinical studies;
• Encouraging the use of cutting-edge technology to analyze existing data in new ways;
• Strengthening collaborations with investigators around the world;
• Capitalizing on the minds of gifted scientists in other fields of medical research;
• Recruiting new talent to the CFS field; and,
• Facilitating proactive communication within the scientific community to share ideas, knowledge and data to advance the field.

In November 2008, the Association announced the funding of six new CFS studies after a rigorous review process to identify the studies with the strongest scientific and strategic merit of the 21 proposals received. Here are links to additional information about those research projects:

Press release about the funding announcement
Abstracts describing the six new studies
Meet Dr. Gordon Broderick of University of Alberta
Meet Dr. Katheen Light of University of Utah
Meet Dr. Marvin Medow of New York Medical College
Meet Dr. Bud Mishra of New York University
Meet Dr. Sanjay Shukla of Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation
Meet Dr. Dikoma Shungu of Weill Cornell Medical School

In January 2009, the Association held its first investigators meeting to gather principal investigators, key collaborators and peer reviewers to exchange ideas, discuss study design, synchronize data collection and begin the process of sharing study data. Read more about this important meeting by clicking here.

Several of the Association’s funded investigators presented data at the 9th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference held in March 2009 in Reno, Nevada. Dr. Vernon gave a three-hour workshop on CFS research and she received an award from the IACFS/ME for “research excellence.” Find several conference reports and resources here.

Dr. Gordon Broderick, Dr. Suzanne Vernon and Dr. Sanjay Shukla

On May 3, 2009, the Association hosted a Research Roundtable event in Chicago for research campaign supporters to hear from scientific director Suzanne Vernon, PhD, and two of the Association's grantees. Dr. Gordon Broderick of University of Alberta and Dr. Sanjay Shukla of Marshfield Clinic foundation impressed attendees with their study plans and some early data.

The Association applied for several NIH grants to support its program and innovative collaborative studies. On June 30, 2009, NIH awarded a $35,000 grant to support a CFS think-tank meeting the Association hosted at Cold Spring Harbor Lab's Banbury Center. A second Research Roundtable was held in Denver on July 12, 2009. Dr. Marvin Meadow of New York Medical College and Dr. Lucinda Bateman of Salt Lake City joined Dr. Vernon to deliver updates on the Association's research program.

Participants gather for a group photo.

In September, the CFIDS Association and NIH gathered funded CFS investigators together for an intensive three-day meeting at Banbury Center (see above) titled, "From Infection to Neurometabolism: A Nexus for CFS." The productive session yielded unparalleled collaboration and plans to expand the CFS research network using existing models and networking tools. Read more about the meeting here.

Several of the Association’s funded teams have recently published CFS data. Here are some links to stories about these studies:

Dr. Gordon Broderick
“Recalibrating flight or fight”
“Model-based therapeutic correction of HPA axis dysfunction”

Dr. Kathleen Light
“Blood Biomarkers: A Light at the end of the tunnel”

Dr. Marvin Medow
“Slow Flow”

Dr. Dikoma Shungu
“Researcher Dikoma Shungu Continues Brain Studies with Association Grant”
“Study finds link between CFS and high lactate levels in the brain”

With the publication of a study in the journal Science, on Oct. 8, 2009 linking CFS to the retrovirus XMRV, the Association immediately began coordinating researchers who requested assistance to develop critical validation studies. Those research projects are getting under way.

More news about our research will be reported in the Association’s publications and its web site. Visit often to stay up-to-date and continue supporting these efforts with your donations.

You might also be interested to read these other articles about the Association’s research program.

Research Campaign Reaches $1 Million Goal!
Association’s Scientific Director Authors Eight Papers in 2008
Accelerating Research: Our Future
Meet Suzanne Vernon (PDF file)
Webinar: The Science of CFS
Looking for a Breakthrough (PDF file)
The Research/Advocacy Connection
10 Discoveries on the Biology of CFS
Fostering Research
A Run for the Money
Xplained

Last updated on October 15, 2009