Journal of IiME Volume 2 Issue 1 www.investinme.org From the Chairman of Invest in ME (continued) Scottish GP Guideline. It is intended to inform the meeting of the Cross Party Group on ME/CFS. If this progresses and patients’ voices begin to be heard then it will be progress. But if it takes the same course as the NICE guidelines then it will be another wasted opportunity. Recently some questions were tabled by an MP in the UK parliament in response to pressure from one of his constituents - a severely affected person with ME who has been writing to IiME. Ian Pearson answered questions about plans ‘to establish an independent scientific committee to oversee research into ME/CFS. He responded by stating that – “the MRC is planning to set up a panel of experts from different disciplines to look more closely at the area. The panel will come from varied fields including neuroscience, immunology, toxicology and imaging, and will involve interested parties and focus on the subtypes and causes of ME/CFS”. If this proves to be true then valid change may be on the way. However, as we recently stated in our newsletter, Invest in ME take the position that any intention to bring together the biological and psychological ME/CFS factions in order to encourage the MRC to give money is misguided. Whilst a holistic approach need to be taken toward any illness it is difficult to reconcile good science with any examination of relationships between valid and proven biological markers and generic, unproven and sometimes deleterious treatments. This will merely delay the only sure way of finding a cure for ME - biomedical research. The only strategy which makes any sense from a scientific, moral or just viewpoint is to fund biomedical research into ME and treat ME in the same way as cancer, Parkinson's, MS or any other mainstream illness. We need to adopt proper diagnostic criteria, the Canadian consensus criteria, to differentiate idiopathic chronic fatigue, burn out, overtraining syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities etc. from ME/CFS and find the correct treatment for each of these groups. Basically, we need and want an objective scientific approach to ME/CFS and sub grouping will facilitate this process. We hope the conference will demonstrate this fact. And so to the conference. This year we are dedicating the conference to the memory of Dr John Richardson. Dr Richardson devoted his life to the treatment of ME and it is fitting that we remember him at a biomedical research conference carrying the theme of sub grouping and treatments for ME/CFS, especially with regard to research on enteroviruses now being presented and which brings us back to the origins of ME. In this small way we honour his work and that of other distinguished professionals over the years who worked with Dr Richardson and have continued his work, including Dr Spurr who is cofounder and chairman of the John Richardson Research Group. As Dr Spurr notes John Richardson was a modest man and did not get the credit he deserved. A day to celebrate research, science and to be able to network in a friendly atmosphere with an eclectic mix of professionals, charities, support groups and others. We shall have details of our ME Book Project on display with Natalie able to discuss this exciting project. The conference day will be a busy time for the IiME team and we won’t be able to spend as much time discussing with our delegates as we would like. But if you are coming to the conference please come up and say hello. For those who are not coming to the conference but are reading this in our Journal then please stay in touch via email. We wish everyone an enjoyable conference and a pleasant summer and hope and believe that progress will continue in providing a future treatment/cure for ME. Best Wishes Kathleen McCall & the IiME team Invest in ME (Charity Nr 1114035) Page 5
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