In our January 2009 newsletter
we mentioned that we were beginning a biomedical research fund.
For some while we have been
thinking that we need to try to attract more funding which we can direct toward
biomedical research - research which can be performed without the constraints or
influence of a powerful psychosocial lobby which still influences MRC policy.
Donations which we receive are
used to support the international conferences, educational dvd production,
production of books and guidelines and postage costs related to these etc.
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.
We want to continue to fund
education and provide the platform for the biomedical research conferences. We
also wish to try to support other areas of biomedical research - by funding
biomedical research staff, providing educational opportunities and in assisting
with equipment and other costs of researchers performing purely biomedical
research into ME.
So IiME has set up a fund for
these activities. We have no illusions we will be a major force in supplying
funding for biomedical research. But we are committed to trying and hope other
ME charities will do the same.
We began this by allocating 20
tickets to the international conference 2009 on 29th May to medical or healthcare
students in order that they may come and listen to the latest information on
management, treatments, diagnosis and the latest advances in research into ME.
In the UK medical students receive little education regarding ME and it seems
often to be influenced by biased or outdated information. We hope to change
this.
In March 2010 Invest in ME part funded the Whittemore-Peterson Instititute UK
study of ME patients and put forward a control group for examination.
In May 2011 IiME organised a special meeting in parliament whereby the chair and
members oif the APPG group for ME could meet biomedical researchers whom IiME
had invited to the 6th Invest in ME International ME/CFS Conference 2011 in
London.
We also organised a "corridor conference" of biomedical researchers from seven
countries in order to allow them the possibility to discuss and collaborate on
future research.
In May 2012 IiME, along with Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation of Australia,
organised the first Clinical Autoimmunity
Working Group for ME, held in London -
click here.
In May 2013 IiME, along with Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation of Australia,
organised the Biomedical Research into ME Collaborative meeting
in London which drew 40 biomedical researchers from nine countries to
collaborate and discuss the latest research into ME and future plans - crowd
sourcing of ideas for ME research -
click here.
Our aim is to build sustainable and developing collaborations
with translational biomedical research at the heart of all research.
IiME's proposal for a UK Centre of Excellence for ME is
available
here and we will continue to campaign and lobby for this centre.
We are promoting the initial research project and the opportunities with
establishing a hub of research within the Norwich Research Park -
click here.
We hope to be in a position to fund more biomedical research in the future.
These events are described in our conference report -
click here.
The Invest in ME Biomedical Research Fund
This 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
-
Cost of sponsoring PhD students performing biomedical research into ME
-
Set up and running of Centre of Excellence for ME
-
Assisting with equipment and other costs of researchers performing purely biomedical research into ME
Currently the focus of the BRF is toward the proposal for a UK examinations and research facility for ME.
If you would like to help in raising funds please contact us.
To donate to the Can Do biomedical research fund please use the links below.
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