This year, ME Research UK marks 25 years since its foundation. To recognise this, the charity is launching ME Research Day.
The day – the 13th of July 2025 – was chosen as it marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of a ‘mystery illness’ at the Royal Free Hospital in London in 1955. This illness was later labelled as ‘benign myalgic encephalomyelitis’ in a 1956 piece published in the Lancet.
Although the outbreak at the Royal Free was not the first time this disease had been observed – or indeed the first outbreak – it is considered to be a seminal moment in the history of ME/CFS.
Therefore, ME Research Day 2025 will highlight the importance of the first major research point in ME/CFS history – the outbreak at the Royal Free.
To recognise ME Research Day this year, and to acknowledge the 25th Anniversary of the charity, over the next week ME Research UK will share:
- Information on the outbreak at the Royal Free, the impact the outbreak had on research, and the significance of this today.
- Messages from ME Research UK’s:
- Founding Patron Roger Jefcoate CBE DL
- Hon President Dr Vance Spence
- Chair Jonathan Davies
- Hon President Bob McRae
- Current Secretary Jan McKendrick
