Invest in ME Statement

Norwegian Style

Ground-breaking Biomedical Research

The recent ground-breaking research by Professor Olav Mella and Dr Øystein Fluge et al. from Haukeland University in Bergen, Norway, [1] is testament to good science performed by people who look at ME objectively and try to understand it with scientific rigour.

This is at totally different from how most research in the UK has been previously allowed to be funded and performed by a select group of psychiatrists who have attempted to prove their theories and enforce their doctrine on sick and vulnerable patients [2].

As stated in the European ME Alliance press release of 19th October [3], the research -

The Norwegian research was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using a patient cohort defined according to the Fukuda, but patients save two also satisfied the Canadian Consensus Criteria (4).

It augurs in a new era in research and interest in researching ME.

It holds out hope for patients that part of the jigsaw puzzle has been found which may lead to further major leaps in the understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease.

It vindicates those who have been saying for many years that biomedical research into ME is the way forward for providing treatment(s) and cure(s) for this disease.

From our March 2011 newsletter [5] -

Dr Kerr also suggested clinical trials using Etanercept and monoclonal antibodies - one of which is Rituximab - at the IiME conference 2007 [6].

Of course we know that Dr Kerr received no funding to do these trials or any further funding to continue with other research that he performed from the MRC.

In 2010 at the IiME conference panel discussion Dr Kerr asked the other panel members if any of them thought ME was a prodormal autoimmune disease? [7]

It is a pity Dr Kerr's research was cut short.

A researcher ahead of his time? Or one who was merely abused by the corrupt system of funding and refereeing research which has been engineered and orchestrated by vested interests?

That is a judgement that will be left for posterity - but it is a judgement that eventually will be made.

It comes as no surprise to IiME that the ground-breaking research into ME comes from Norway - having borne witness to the energetic and continuous efforts of Norwegian patients [8] and our Norwegian colleagues in the European ME Alliance [9].

Norwegian neurologist Professor Harald Nyland, who presented at the IiME conference 2009 [10], was also one of the authors of the Fluge and Mella study and it is gratifying to see this cooperation between researchers.

The Norwegian researchers Fluge and Mella presented their research at the 6th Invest in ME International ME/CFS Conference in London in May 2011 [11]. It is a point of credit that, at the request of the researchers and of IiME, attendees at the conference by and large maintained the embargo on reporting so that nothing would jeopardise the eventual publication of the paper.

The presentation is available on the IiME conference DVD [12].

We wonder what could be done if the IiME proposal could obtain support from funding bodies to initiate a strategy of world-class research beginning in Norwich.[13]

References:

1. Plos One study - Benefit from B-Lymphocyte Depletion Using the Anti-CD20 Antibody Rituximab in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Study -http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0026358
2. https://www.investinme.org/Article430%20The%20PACE%20Trial-Expression%20Of%20Concern%20A%20Summary.htm
3. European ME Alliance \Press Release - https://www.europeanmealliance.org/news-Q42011-002.shtml
4. Canadian Consensus - https://www.investinme.org/InfoCentre%20Guidelines.htm#Canadian_Criteria
5. Invest in ME March 2011 newsletter <

   https://www.investinme.org/IIME%20Newsletter%20Mar%2011.htm

6. https://www.investinme.org/International%20ME%20Conference%202007%20-%20DVD%20Orders.shtml
7. https://www.investinme.org/IiME%20International%20ME%20Conference%202010%20-%20Review%20Home.shtml
8. http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Awww.investinme.org+norway&qfront=norway
9. http://www.euro-me.org/Norway%20MEA.htm
10. http://tinyurl.com/mksucl
11. https://www.investinme.org/IiME%20Conference%202011/IiME%20International%20ME%20Conference%202011%20-%20Review%20Home.shtml
12. https://www.investinme.org/IiME%20Conference%202011/IiME%20International%20ME%20Conference%202011%20DVD%20Orders.shtml
13. https://www.investinme.org/Research%20-%20ME%20Institute.htm