Published in the journal, Medicine, last month was a systematic review looking at “evidence of altered cardiac autonomic regulation in ME/CFS”. Simply put, “cardiac autonomic regulation” refers to the body’s control system that acts unconsciously to regulate the functions of the heart such as heart rate. This has been a recurring topic in projects funded by ME Research UK, and several of the studies referenced in this new review are from...

A newly established group – called the ME/CFS Biomedical Partnership – has announced that it will apply for research funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Lead investigators for the Partnership are human genetics specialist Professor Chris Ponting from the University of Edinburgh and clinician Dr Luis Nacul who leads the CureME team at the UK ME/CFS Biobank. In summary: The...

Earlier this year, Dr Elisha Josef and colleagues at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia published results from their ME Research UK-funded study looking at brain functional connectivity, cognitive symptoms and fatigue in adolescents with ME/CFS. Also interested in this area of research is another Australian group, from a bit further up the coast in Queensland, which has recently published a paper investigating...

Many people with ME/CFS experience “orthostatic” symptoms when they stand up – including dizziness, altered vision, nausea and fatigue – which are caused by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. In fact, an ME Research UK-funded study at Newcastle University in 2013 found that 13% of patients have a condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which is characterised by large changes in heart rate on standing,...

Minutes of the Meeting held in Residence 1, House of Lords, Wednesday 10 July 2019, 2.00 pm Present: Countess of Mar (Chairman); Bill & Janice Kent (reMEmber); Dr Nina Muirhead; Hannah Clifton (ME Trust); Christine Harrison (BRAME); Suzie Henson-Amphlett (TYMES Trust); Esperanza Moreno (ME Action); Sam Bromiley (AFME); Dr Charles Shepherd (ME Association); Dr Willy Weir; Sue Waddle (ME Research UK); and Philip Gowan. Apologies and...

In tribute to the memory of his best friend, Emily Gregg, the artist Mel Elston-Mendones has created art for sale inspired by Emily and in aid of ME Research UK. Emily, a happy, sociable and friendly person, was a police constable with Hampshire Constabulary, and passed away on the 17th November 2014 having been severely affected by ME/CFS. She was a great supporter of Mel’s art and design; believed in his talent and encouraged him. After...