ME stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS) is a multisystem, complex, acquired illness with symptoms related mainly to the dysfunction of the brain, gastro-intestinal, immune, endocrine and cardiac systems. ME/PVFS has been classified as a neurological disorder in the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases since 1969 (ICD 10 G93.3). Since 1992, the term "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" (CFS) has been included in the Alphabetical Index and indexed to G93.3.

The Chief Medical Officer's Report on the subject of CFS/ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) issued in January 2002 recognises that "CFS/ME should be classed as a chronic condition with long term effects on health, alongside other illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease

To date there is no known specific medical diagnostic test to determine or confirm a correct diagnosis nor is there any specific treatment for this condition.

>What is ME? What is CFS? >Guidelines for ME >IiMER Awareness Leaflet

The Invest in ME Research International ME Conferences are CPD accredited biomedical conferences which provide a platform for the latest information and biomedical research on myalgic encephalomyelitis. They attract the most renowned speakers from all over the world - and are valuable sources of education and information for healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses, researchers, ME support groups and people with ME. They provide an excellent insight into these areas and the issues currently facing the healthcare and ME patient communities. Our conferences and, later, our researchers' 'Colloquiums have been facilitating interaction and sharing of information between patients, researchers and clinicians since 2006.

The Invest in ME Research International Biomedical Research into ME Colloquiums began as a way of bringing together researchers from around the world in a round-table discussion of ME research and ideas. Over the years this has broadened to sharing of experiences, data and plans. The charity has now put in place the key building blocks to take ME research into the 21st century with high-quality biomedical research in world class organisations being performed by some of the best researchers. This is a basis for a strategy of international biomedical research which will hold far greater promise of creating proper funding and awareness of biomedical research into ME.

To see what has been performed please go to this link.

Donating to Invest in ME Research means that the donation will go towards one of a variety of activities which are part of our objective to build a foundation of biomedical research into ME.

IiMER does not pay any salaries so all funds are directed to where they can be used effectively to reach our objectives.

To see what has been performed over more than a decade please go to this link.

The Biomedical Research Fund (BRF) provides a means to fund biomedical research into ME and avoid the constraints or influence of policies which do not focus on researching ME properly. In addition education is a major part of biomedical research. Students need to attend conferences such as ours, healthcare professionals need to have the latest research presented to them regarding ME and researchers themselves need to meet, network and establish working relationships with each other. Researchers must also begin sharing data and working in co-operation.

Our aim is to build sustainable and developing collaborations with translational biomedical research at the heart of all research. The Invest in ME Research Biomedical Research Fund will be used for the following -

• Biomedical Research into ME

• Education Regarding ME

• Conferences related to ME

• Expenses in Sponsoring Presenters to Speak at Conferences and Colloquiums

• Cost of sponsoring PhD students and postdocs performing biomedical research into ME

• Set up and running of ME Clinical services

• Assisting with equipment and other costs of researchers performing purely biomedical research into ME

Currently the focus of the BRF is mainly toward the research in the Centre of Excellence for ME project. If you would like to help in raising funds please contact us.

To donate to the Invest in ME Research "Can Do" biomedical research fund please use the links above.

Donating to Invest in ME Research means that the donation will go towards one of a variety of activities which are part of our objective to build a foundation of biomedical research into ME.

IiMER does not pay any salaries so all funds are directed to where they can be used effectively to reach our objectives.

To see what has been performed over more than a decade please go to this link.

The UK Gut Microbiota Research projects aim to find whether there is evidence of a leaky gut in ME patients, to test the hypothesis that ME is an autoimmune disorder originating in the gut as a consequence of altered intestinal permeability, to investigate whether the underlying causes of ME are related to the presence of specific virus populations within the gut virobiota, and aim to answer important questions concerning the role of the enteric phage/virome in ME .

These are research projects in the developing UK Centre of Excellence for ME.

To read more about the UK Gut Microbiota projects please go to this link.

The Centre of Excellence for ME is a project proposed by Invest in ME Research to establish a hub for biomedical research into ME. Please support us

This link takes one to the C of E for ME site please go to this link.

The Centre of Excellence for ME is a project created by Invest in ME Research. Part of this project proposal is the inclusion of medical students who will intercalate during their fourth year of study and participate in the biomedical research.

To read more about the medical students in ME please go to this link.