Tag: conferences

Understanding, diagnosing, and treating Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome – State of the art: Report of the 2nd international meeting at the Charité fatigue center

Abstract:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a devastating disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Due to the 2019 pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we are facing a significant increase of ME/CFS prevalence. On May 11th to 12th, 2023, the second international ME/CFS conference of the Charité Fatigue Center was held in Berlin, Germany, focusing on pathomechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment.

During the two-day conference, more than 100 researchers from various research fields met on-site and over 700 attendees participated online to discuss the state of the art and novel findings in this field. Key topics from the conference included: the role of the immune system, dysfunction of endothelial and autonomic nervous system, and viral reactivation. Furthermore, there were presentations on innovative diagnostic measures and assessments for this complex disease, cutting-edge treatment approaches, and clinical studies.

Despite the increased public attention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent rise of Long COVID-19 cases, and the rise of funding opportunities to unravel the pathomechanisms underlying ME/CFS, this severe disease remains highly underresearched. Future adequately funded research efforts are needed to further explore the disease etiology and to identify diagnostic markers and targeted therapies.

Source: Steiner S, Fehrer A, Hoheisel F, Schoening S, Aschenbrenner A, Babel N, Bellmann-Strobl J, Finke C, Fluge Ø, Froehlich L, Goebel A, Grande B, Haas JP, Hohberger B, Jason LA, Komaroff AL, Lacerda E, Liebl M, Maier A, Mella O, Nacul L, Paul F, Prusty BK, Puta C, Riemekasten G, Ries W, Rowe PC, Sawitzki B, Shoenfeld Y, Schultze JL, Seifert M, Sepúlveda N, Sotzny F, Stein E, Stingl M, Ufer F, Veauthier C, Westermeier F, Wirth K, Wolfarth B, Zalewski P, Behrends U, Scheibenbogen C. Understanding, diagnosing, and treating Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome – State of the art: Report of the 2nd international meeting at the Charité fatigue center. Autoimmun Rev. 2023 Sep 22:103452. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103452. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37742748. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568997223001866

15th International ME Conference Canceled

A statement from Invest in ME Research regarding the International ME Conference Week events in London in May 2020.

The WHO has also pronounced the Covid-19 situation as a pandemic and further restrictions and changes are being applied to normal life.

Therefore, due to the continuing and escalating consequences from this serious situation, it is with great regret that Invest in ME Research has had to cancel the 15th International ME Conference in London on 30 May 2020, along with other planned events during International ME Conference Week 2020 – including the Thinking the Future 2020 conference, the International ME Clinicians Workshop and the 10th International Biomedical Research into ME Colloquium.

Restrictions on staff travel have been placed by academic and research institutes in a number of countries and many of the delegates and speakers to the conference (and the other events organised by Invest in ME Research) are affected by this.

In UK there are predictions that cases of people affected by Covid-19 will continue to increase and may peak around May/June. This places the Conference in the middle of this phase. We feel that it would be irresponsible to plan on holding any such event in the foreseeable future that involved people with ME or researchers mixing in public spaces and travelling – even if it were possible.

The Invest in ME Research Colloquiums and Conferences are international events and always have been – spanning fifteen years since the charity was formed – and we hope that we can make new arrangements for the future and we will keep you informed.

Our best wishes – and please stay safe,

Invest in ME Research