New funding award: Role of autoimmunity in ME/CFS
This month, ME Research UK was delighted to announce that we awarded funding to Prof. Bhupesh Prusty at Riga Stradins University in Latvia for a project investigating the role of autoimmunity in ME/CFS.
Following on from his previous work, Prof. Prusty will look at the mechanisms through which immunoglobulins from individuals with ME/CFS can cause dysfunction of the mitochondria (which are responsible for generating energy in cells). As well as providing a better understanding of the role of autoimmunity in ME/CFS, the findings may help in the design or selection of future treatments.
25 years of your generosity
Thanks to the continued support of our generous donors ad fundraisers, ME Research UK has surpassed £5m in cumulative research investment since 2000. A milestone reached in this our 25th anniversary year.
The charity relies entirely on public donations to support our goal of funding rigorous scientific research into the causes, consequences, and treatment of ME/CFS. We have reached this milestone due to the hard work and generosity of our supporters who share our mission: making a real, long-term difference to the lives and prospects of people with the disease. Thank you!
Update on mitochondrial research
Prof. Jo Nijs and Jente Van Campenhout at Vrije Universiteit Brussel are now two years into their PhD-level research project investigating the links between mitochondrial function and the autonomic nervous system in ME/CFS. 51 people with ME/CFS and 27 healthy controls are currently enrolled in the study, with recruitment likely to be complete by next summer. Furthermore, the mitochondrial analyses are in full swing, and the researchers hope to publish their initial findings soon.
Also, many congratulations to Jente who received the award for best oral presentation at the 3rd Belgian Pain Society Young Researchers Day earlier this year!
Open call for PhD-level research applications
ME Research UK is pleased to announce an open call for applications for PhD-level research funding. We welcome proposals from researchers wishing to investigate the causes, consequences and treatment of ME/CFS.
The deadline for outline proposals is Friday 9th January 2026. More details can be found on our website.
All funds raised from this year’s Big Give campaign will go towards supporting PhD projects awarded from this call.
Articles
Recap of Dysautonomia Awareness Month
Throughout October, ME Research UK marked Dysautonomia Awareness Month. For ease of access, and in case you missed any, we have collated dysautonomia postings into one article, with links to relevant detailed articles for each.
Autoimmunity in ME/CFS and long COVID
In keeping with the autoimmunity theme of our recent project award, Prof. Dr Carmen Scheibenbogen – former ME Research UK-funded researcher – gave a fascinating talk providing evidence for autoimmunity in ME/CFS and long COVID at the 2nd International Conference on Clinical and Scientific Advances in ME/CFS and Long COVID.
Supporting individuals with Severe ME
During the 2nd International Conference on Clinical and Scientific Advances in ME/CFS and Long COVID, Caroline Kingdon insightfully detailed her experiences visiting people with severe ME from a researcher’s perspective and gave recommendations for better care and support.
Other topics explored in November include microclots – what are they?, the Westminster hall debate on ME, and Germany pledges research funding for post-infectious diseases.
Autumn Breakthrough magazine
The Autumn 2025 issue of Breakthrough magazine is now available online. This issue includes a look at a newly funded project investigating why ME/CFS affects more women than men, more findings from Dr Leighton Barnden on the structure of the brain in ME/CFS, updated estimates of the UK prevalence of ME/CFS, and much more.
Big Give Christmas Challenge – Get ready!
Thanks to our wonderful supporters, ME Research UK has a Pledge Pot of £19,100 available to match-fund donations received during the Big Give Christmas Challenge NEXT WEEK (2nd to 9th December 2025). All donations, big and small, will be appreciated!
Christmas cards
Thanks to your incredible support, seven of our unique Christmas card designs have sold out. Our timeless Holy Family design is still available – ready for purchase today. The store closes on the morning of 8th December.
Help us make the breakthrough
We know that, as a subscriber to our newsletter and someone who is interested in our work, you join us in the belief that only robust scientific research is the key to understanding ME/CFS.
Donations from our valued supporters are vital if we are to continue our work to inform, influence and invest in ME/CFS research globally.
