The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) research program at the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
(CDC) continues to benefit from the restoration of $12.9 million in funds that were wrongly diverted from
1995-98.
In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2000, the program received an extra $1.9 million
on top of
its $5.8 million baseline budget. Spending figures for the current fiscal year will be released in the
fall.
The funds are being restored to the program after the Inspector General found that CDC
had used the
money for other programs and then misled Congress about it. The bulk of the money will be repaid during
Fiscal Years 2002 and 2003. The funds are not earmarked for specific CFS projects.
Under the leadership of Dr. William Reeves, the CDC will expand its in-house CFS surveillance
studies--including
a new national population-based survey slated to begin late this summer. Molecular epidemiology studies
using cutting-edge technologies to identify unique gene patterns in CFS patients are another primary component
of in-house studies.
The CFS program is also supporting activities to educate primary care providers about
the disease.
Dr. Reeves and his group also continue to lead efforts to refine the CFS case definition. The group held
a workshop in May 2001 to review
classification models and assessment tools that might be useful in revising the CFS case definition.
The CFS program has expanded collaborations with academic researchers as well. Dr. Nancy
Klimas plans
to take a sabbatical from her duties at the University of Miami to work with CDC on case definition and
other research issues. The program also has provided financial support to Dr. Sidney Grossberg in his
studies of a novel virus that may be associated with CFS.
In addition, Dr. Andrew Lloyd s Australian research group will follow cases of acute
infection. They
will assess risk factors for cases that do not resolve and lead to a CFS-like illness.
The CFS program s most significant collaboration is with a multi-disciplinary group
at Emory University.
The group is using alpha-interferon treatment as a model for CFS, and studying a number of neuroendocrine
aspects of CFS.
The CDC also has agreed to co-sponsor the Association s third research symposium, to
be held in October
on the immunologic aspects of CFS.
A more complete report on CDC s use of restored research funds is anticipated at the
next meeting
of the DHHS CFS Coordinating Committee, expected to be held this fall.
New Association Survey to Provide Information on Attitudes
The
CFIDS Assocation
of America has a number of projects underway to enhance awareness and understanding of CFIDS. One
that has recently been initiated is a survey of medical practitioners and researchers.
The Assocation is polling the more than 8,000 practitioners/researchers who receive
The CFIDS Chronicle
and/or The CFS Research Review to determine attitudes and perceptions about the illness.
The survey is designed to uncover potential barriers to diagnosis and treatment as well as issues involved
in management of the illness.
Data will be used in the Association's media outreach efforts and physician education
program.
The survey will also attempt to identify physicians willing to act as spokespeople for CFIDS.
Results from the survey will be reported in an upcoming issue of the Chronicle.
