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ME/CFS: Research

Asked by Mr Lee DillonLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 28 April 2026UIN 128524

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department is providing for research into the genetic differences between people with myalgic encephalomyelitis and those without the condition.

Answered by Dr Zubir Ahmed

The National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council have dedicated £3.2 million to the DecodeME study. This study aims to understand the genetic differences between those who have myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and those who do not, and in doing so increase our understanding of ME/CFS to support the development of diagnostic tests and targeted treatments. Preliminary findings from DecodeME indicate genetic differences in eight areas linked to the immune and nervous systems in people with ME/CFS. This discovery of specific genetic signals may help us understand the biological pathways involved in ME/CFS in the future.

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