Welcome to the May 2024 edition of ME Research UK’s monthly newsletter.
International ME Awareness Day
12th May was International ME Awareness Day 2024. On this important day, organisations and individuals raised awareness about the debilitating nature of ME/CFS and other chronic immunological and neurologic diseases. Inverclyde marked the day with a number of local features turning blue, including ‘The Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow’ and the Lyle Fountain.
ME Awareness Week
During ME Awareness Week (12th – 18th May), we asked some of our researchers what they would like people to know about from their own research. Their quotes, covering areas such as brain inflammation and energy metabolism, demonstrate the wide range of projects funded by ME Research UK.
Throughout the week, we also shared postings about core and additional symptoms of ME/CFS, alongside comorbidities, in order to raise awareness about the profound impact the disease has on those affected.
Research articles
Analysing steroid hormone levels in blood, Dr Francisco Westermeier and colleagues found differences related to the sex of study participants and ME/CFS disease severity, illustrating the importance of considering specific patient subgroups when conducting ME/CFS research.
The “1st International Conference on Clinical and Scientific Advances in ME/CFS and Long COVID” was held recently and ME Research UK attended remotely. We have summarised key themes including the history of ME/CFS, clinical assessment of ME/CFS and long COVID, and biological abnormalities.
Founders’ Science Writing Award 2024: “The Future of ME/CFS Research”
ME Research UK is delighted to announce the launch of the Founders’ Science Writing Award – a competition giving early career researchers the opportunity to develop skills in communicating science in a way that is accessible and engaging to the general public. The award honours the foresight of ME Research UK founders, Dr Vance Spence, Robert McRae, and Roger Jefcoate CBE DL, in establishing a major force in ME/CFS research globally.
Walk for ME
Thank you so much to Claire Carter who, for this year’s Walk for ME, held a cake sale in aid of ME Research UK at Porthleven Market – who kindly donated a pitch right on Porthleven harbour head for the day.
The aim of Walk for ME is to get as many people as possible to do a sponsored walk, run, swim or ride of whatever length they feel comfortable with. Please help support the team, or you could even organise your own event.
Blue Sunday
A heartfelt thank you to Anna Redshaw for organising Blue Sunday – “The Tea Party for M.E.” – and to everyone who donated to or fundraised on behalf of ME Research UK. Since its inception in 2013, the initiative has raised over £100,000 for charities, with this year’s running total surpassing £30,000. Additionally, a big thank you to Isaac for organising and hosting “Blue Sunday – Tea Party for ME – The Concert” in aid of ME Research UK and Smile for ME. All donations will go towards biomedical research into ME/CFS.
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.
