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Thank you for your e-mail of 12 November 2009 to the First Minister regarding research into CFS/ME.
I have been asked to reply.
The Scottish Government are aware of the research you refer to, looking into possible links between the retrovirus XMRV and CFS/ME.
The Scottish Government maintains an interest in the results of any research which may be of potential benefit and which may lead to advances in patient care, regardless of where it takes place. Dissemination and publication of research finding are key elements in the research process. This research is still at a very early stage, so it would not be transferred into changes to treatment at this stage.
The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Government Health Directorates, which has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland, is collaborating and supporting with the Medical Research Council (MRC) on the implementation of its research strategy into CFS/ME.
CSO has contributed funding to the PACE (Pacing, graded Activity and Cognitive
Behaviour Therapy; a randomised Evaluation) trial which has been set up in order to provide a systematic evaluation of these therapies. The trial is expected to end in 2010.
Although not currently funding any research specifically related to the biological effects of CFS/ME, the MRC and CSO remain committed to funding scientific research into all aspects of CFS/ME including evaluations of other treatments and studies into the biological basis of the condition.
The MRC and CSO do not have set budgets for specific illnesses, so support of the existing CFS/ME studies does not mean that money is not available for other proposals that meet the scientific standards set by the peer review process. CFS/ME is a strategic priority area for the MRC and they are continuing to promote research in this area and encourage applications for funding.
Research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. While research excellence continues to be the primary consideration in funding decisions, and the MRC does not as a rule earmark funds (nor does it commission research) for particular topics, when appropriate, high quality research in the areas the Council is promoting may be given priority in competition for funds.
In 2008/9 the MRC's total expenditure on CFS/ME research amounted to £728K.
This supported 4 projects including a £164K research programme led by Dr Charlotte Clark at Queen Mary College, London to look at the general and specific risk markers & preventative factors for chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowl syndromes.
In 2008 a new Expert group was set up by the MRC to consider how best to encourage new high quality research into CFS/ME and to bring researchers from associated areas into the field. The Expert Group has met twice, in December 2008 and March 2009 . In addition, the MRC recently held a CFS/ME workshop and a note of the discussions will be published on their website (www.mrc.ac.uk) in due course.
I hope this information assures you the CSO and MRC are actively working in this area.
NICK GOSLING
CSO Administration
Chief Medical Officer Directorate Chief Scientist Office
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