ME Research UK is delighted to announce that we have awarded funding to Dr Sarah Annesley at La Trobe University in Australia for a new study looking at microRNA profiles and their impact on platelet function and energy production in women with ME/CFS.
Dr Annesley explains, “Our early research has found that certain microRNAs are altered in people with ME/CFS – and some of these changes are in microRNAs that control the expression of proteins related to energy production and platelet function.
“In this new project, we’ll study blood samples from women with ME/CFS and compare them to healthy controls to look for differences in microRNA profiles. We’ll also test whether these changes in microRNAs can actually cause changes in platelet activity and energy production using cellular models.
“If our hypothesis is correct, it could open the door to new treatment possibilities – including therapies based on microRNAs, which are already being explored for other illnesses.”
Dr Annesley has prepared a short video explaining her new research.
