ME/CFS: Research

The Department has not made a specific assessment of whether the strategic prioritisation for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), is proportionate to the disease burden. However, we recognise that this has been an under researched area and the Government is committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of ME/CFS.

The Government funds research into ME/CFS through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation. The NIHR and the MRC are working together to deliver the actions on research in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan. Two projects have recently received funding to investigate the feasibility of a new clinical trial that tests multiple interventions for the treatment of post-acute infection syndromes, including Long Covid and ME/CFS. In addition, £4.75 million of Government funding has been provided to SequenceME, which will create the first high-resolution genetic map of the condition, paving the way to future diagnostics and treatments.