The 5 projects being funded by the MRCs 1.5 m

Identifying the biological fingerprints of fatigue;
Principal investigator: Dr Wan Ng
Institution: Newcastle University
Summary: Researchers will analyse the immune systems of more than 500 patients with primary Sjögren syndrome – a chronic condition with similar symptoms to CFS/ME, including intense fatigue. Scientists will look for immune system abnormalities in these patients to help them identify the biological "fingerprints" of fatigue. It is hoped this will improve their understanding of the mechanisms of fatigue with a view to developing new treatments. It also offers the hope of a clinical test for the diagnosis of CFS/ME.
Understanding the pathogenesis of autonomic dysfunction in chronic
fatigue syndrome and its relationship with cognitive impairment;
Principal investigator: Professor Julia Newton
Institution: Newcastle University
Summary: Researchers will explore what causes dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system – characterised by dizziness and light-headedness – present in up to 90 per cent of CFS/ME sufferers.
They will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure changes in blood flow to the brain and how this relates to cognition and nervous system dysfunction. The researchers hope their work will lay the foundations for new diagnostic tools, a better understanding of nervous system abnormalities and the development of targeted treatments aimed at reversing these abnormalities.
Modulation of aberrant mitochondrial function and cytokine production
in skeletal muscle of patients with CFS by supplementary polyphenols;
Principal investigator: Professor Anne McArdle
Institution: University of Liverpool (joint with the University of Leeds )
Summary: Scientists will use a newly-developed technique to study the energy-generating components of muscle cells (mitochondria). Some studies have suggested that mitochondria may be dysfunctional in
CFS/ME, leading to an energy deficit. The scientists hope this will help them learn more about how CFS/ME develops and becomes a chronic condition.
Can enhancing slow wave sleep SWS improve daytime function in patients with CFS?;
Principal investigator: Professor David Nutt
Institution: Imperial College London (where as it happens my brother is studying)
Summary: Researchers will study sleep disturbance – a core symptom of CFS/ME. Experts in CFS/ME, sleep and psychopharmacology will use a drug to increase deep restorative sleep in CFS/ME patients and measure the effect on their brain function during waking hours. It is hoped the research will increase their understanding of how sleep disturbance affects CFS/ME sufferers, with a view to developing new therapies.
Persistent fatigue induced by interferon-alpha: a new immunological
model for chronic fatigue syndrome;
Principal investigator: Dr Carmine Pariante
Institution: King's College London
Summary: Researchers will examine the effects of a protein called interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on the immune system. IFN-alpha is produced as a protective response to viral infection and is commonly
used to treat infections such as hepatitis C. IFN-alpha also induces fatigue and flu-like symptoms in patients, similar to that experienced by patients with CFS/ME. The team will follow patients undergoing IFN-alpha treatment for Hepatitis C over a number of months to define the biological changes that occur in relation to the development of fatigue. Their work could lead to a check-list of blood measures to predict who will develop CFS/ME, as well as identifying new targets for therapy.

Although I have become sceptical of any research funded by governments, companies and the like because they always seem to skew research to fit their own policies + especially pockets, these projects do sound hopeful. Especially the Mitochondria one for me of course. Also the one on sleep as I struggle with that symptom terribly.

Just so long as they include Classic ME sufferers, not solely people with idiopathic fatugie, things seem encouraging

Petition; NO MORE psychiatric research into ME/CFS

What is this petition about?

 ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) or, as the media and many doctors term it 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' (CFS), is a complex neurological condition leading to severe disability in many cases. About 250,000 people in the UK have this condition; up to 4 million in the USA and as many as 17 million worldwide.

 Why are we petitioning?

For 30 years, the UK and American research establishments have either refused to fund research into ME/CFS in any meaningful way, or consistently funded research by psychiatrists who believe that ME/CFS has a 'biopsychosocial' basis (ie that it is psychosomatic, or all in our heads) the same thing they used to tell patients with diabetes and MS.

As any ME patient can tell you, you only have to spend a week with this condition to know it is not imaginary. Some patients have lived for more than 30 years severely disabled, unable to move, speak, think clearly and participate in any of the activities that make life worthwhile. Nobody would want to live this life, because a life with ME is no life at all.

Despite monopolising Government research budgets, the psychiatrists have failed to prove that ME is a psychological (or 'biopsychosocial') condition, or that their suggested treatments are effective.

Worse, ME/CFS has become a dustbin diagnosis for patients with all kinds of illnesses where chronic fatigue is one of the symptoms. This means that, not only are real ME patients not getting research funding for causes and treatments, but those who are wrongly diagnosed are not getting appropriate treatment either.

What needs to happen?

While the UK and USA Governments, research and medical establishments continue to ignore the problem, scientists around the world have produced some 4,000 peer-reviewed, published scientific papers which show clearly that there are systemic, biological changes in the bodies of ME/CFS patients. This is the research direction that is most likely to lead to finding a cause - and a cure.

Who are we petitioning, and what do we want?

So far, every study funded by Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC) into this condition has had a psychiatic basis. It is time the MRC stopped funding psychological research into ME.

In January, the MRC announced %uFFFD1.5m funding for research into the causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). Applications for funding must be made this June, and the MRC will make its decisions on which proposals to fund in November 2011. 

It is important that ALL of this funding  is focused onbiomedical research. It must not be wasted going over old ground or down any more blind alleys. It must capitalise on the work already done by such eminent scientists and physicians as Dr Jose Montoya of Stanford University, Dr Judy Mikovits of the WPI, Dr Harvey Alter at the NIH, Dr Nancy Klimas of the University of Miami, Dr Gwen Kennedy and her team at the University of Dundee and many others.

250,000 patients in Britain need to know they are no longer being ignored, sidelined or labelled as psychiatric cases. They need answers; they need treatments and they need them without any further delays.

ttp://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-more-psychiatric-research-into-mecfs/