Funding Research
Support Groups
Scientific research is very expensive and only a few support
groups have the ability to fund it. Supporting groups that do so is important
because they tend to fund innovative cutting edge research projects. Because
scientific research is so expensive they are generally restricted to funding
seed projects they hope will later attract federal attention. They are an
important source of innovation.
-
The CFIDS Association of America (CAA) - is the largest funder of chronic
fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research outside of the federal arena. The CAA
recently was successful in raising a $1,000,000 for ME/CFS research. In 2007 the
CAA recruited a nationally known researcher from the Centers For Disease
Control, Dr. Suzanne Vernon, to lead its research effort.
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Research United Kingdom (MERUK)
– has its own team
of researchers that have broken new ground on oxidative stress, circulatory
problems, cardiovascular risk factors and more in ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome).
- CFS Research Foundation (UK) – is funding Dr. Kerr’s rigorous and
extensive gene expression studies that may have found a genetic signature for
this disease.
The ME
Association (UK)
- is currently funding Dr. Gows gene expression research
and has contributed to a wide variety of research efforts in the past including
studies involving brain imaging, neuroendocrine functioning, viruses, etc.
Research Foundations
The growth of independent Research Foundations devoted to ME/CFS (chronic fatigue
syndrome) is
promising. These Foundations are usually started by researchers or patients
(with researcher support) who have a personal interest in this disease. Two
Foundations have a large enough budgets to put on scientific conferences and
conduct research. They include the:
-
Whittemore-Peterson Neuro-immune Institute (WPI) Created by Annette and
Harvey Whittemore in conjunction with Dr. Dan Peterson, the WPI is something of
a miracle. Opening in 2010 in Reno, Nevada, the WPI has been able to garner
enough private, state and federal support to build a program that rivals the CDC
and NIH research efforts.
-
HHV-6 Foundation
– Begun by Kristen Loomis, Daram Ablashi and Annette
Whittemore, the HHV-6 Foundation collaborates, funds research efforts and
sponsors conferences designed to advance our knowledge of difficult to detect
central nervous system viruses.
Several smaller research Foundations have appeared in the last few years. They
include the:
- The
Dr. A Martin Lerner Foundation - supports the work of Dr. Lerner in
uncovering the viral pathogenesis and cardiac problems in ME/CFS. The
Foundations goal is create a molecular biology laboratory to produce diagnostic
tests for subsets of CFS patients and a training Center to provide instruction
for doctors to treat CFS.
- Enviromed Foundation - supports Dr. Chia’s research into enteroviral activity in
ME/CFS patients.
- EV MED RESEARCH
25332 Narbonne Ave, Suite 170, Lomita, Ca. 90717
Tel: 310 534 9700
Fax: 310 534 9701
- Workwell Foundation – supports Staci Steven’s and the Pacific Fatigue Labs
work at the University of the Pacific in elucidating the metabolic abnormalities
found in ME/CFS patients during repeat exercise tests.