Today (5th July) marks Research Appreciation Day, which celebrates the hard work of health researchers and scientists around the world.
This year, the organisers of Research Appreciation Day 2026 highlight that ‘All breakthroughs in healthcare are made thanks to the work of researchers.’ Therefore, we highlight the work ME Research UK is currently funding and celebrate the hard work of all researchers involved.
For Research Appreciation Day 2025, ME Research UK launched the ‘Researcher Circle’, which was aimed initially at PhD-level students working on projects funded by the charity.
Within this group, ME Research UK has:
- Created an online space for students to network and learn about each other’s work.
- Provided an opportunity for skill development through talks given by members of ME Research UK staff, from established researchers in the field, and from other relevant experts.
- Provided a friendly forum to discuss challenges faced, to practice presentations, and to lay the foundations for future careers.
After a successful year of online meetings, and to offer support to more ME/CFS researchers at the very beginning of their careers – at a point when they will be choosing which career-path to take and which research to dedicate their working lives to – ME Research UK is pleased to announce that the Researcher Circle is now being opened up to all PhD students and early career researchers (not just those working on projects funded by ME Research UK).
For the purposes of this group, ECR will be defined as those who are within the first 5 years post PhD award or part-time equivalent, and excluding career breaks such as parental leave – working in the field of biomedical ME/CFS research.
If you would like to sign up to the group, please get in touch with Emma Slack, Science Writer and Research Engagement Officer at ME Research UK at emma@meresearch.org.uk. Notably, there is no geographical restriction on entry to the group.
