Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) – where we hoped to use the opportunity presented by the conference to network and exchange information to launch new collaborations. When one reads this Journal news will have been publicised regarding a two day closed researcher meeting which preceded this year’s conference and which focussed on exploring autoimmunity and ME based on the results of the Norwegian Rituximab research. The Clinical Autoimmunity Working Group (CAWG) has been formed by the best of the best in the field of immunology/autoimmunity. The CAWG has been convened by The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation and Invest in ME, in collaboration with Bond University, Australia and the University of East Anglia, UK. Dr Don Staines will be presenting a summary of this meeting at the 7th Invest in ME conference. Invest in ME’s intention is to fund research where we can and to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between researchers across the world. It is, we believe, only by these means that patients will be able to see real and rapid progress being made in treating this disease. Patient power is described in the Journal with the Let’s Do It for ME campaign being the best example of positive campaigning – where patients influence the progress of research. The conference programme is a mixture of experienced ME researchers and clinicians such as Drs Peterson, Baraniuk, Marshall-Gradisnik, Staines, Kogelnik and recent newcomer to ME research, Professor Ljungar as well as experts in related fields such as Dr Delgado, Professor Fitzgerald and Professor Perry whose work is very important in helping us find clues to ME. Professor Perry is also the recently appointed chair of the MRC Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB) so we welcome his input. Then of course we all want to hear the latest from Dr Fluge’s and Professor Mella’s research. Dr Ian Gibson, is a former cancer researcher and Dean of Biological Sciences at UEA and MP, will be chairing this year’s conference. Dr Gibson has been instrumental in helping Invest in ME initiate negotiations to set up an examination and research facility in Norwich using the excellent resources the Norwich Research Park has on offer. Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) The conference is focal point for research and networking but there is a great deal of work behind the scenes. The Journal has a Scandinavian slant to it in this issue. This reflects our view and the events of the past year, that change will likely come from that direction. Thanks to years of gallant efforts from the Norwegian ME Association, and now from the Norwegian researchers in Bergen, there is real hope of a breakthrough. The Norwegian minister of health has officially and publicly apologised for the treatment given to ME patients. The Swedes are similarly playing a forceful and proactive role in getting Swedish researchers and clinicians to the conference this year with EMEA Sweden member RME working closely with IiME. We have articles from Norwegian journalist Jørgen Jelstad and Professor Olof Zachrisson from Sweden. Jørgen’s article covers the story of the Norwegian researchers’ work with Rituximab. Jorgen has written an excellent book “De Bortgjemte” – (The Hidden ones). Professor Zachrisson’s article covers experiences with staphylococcus vaccine treatment which was successful in alleviating symptoms but which is no longer available due to the vaccine manufacturers having taking it out of production. While the charity attempts to initiate the first biomedical research into ME in Norwich as a prelude to further examination and research so we look to Scandinavia to lead the way in Europe. Margaret Williams is a prolific and incisive commentator on the state of ME. She has produced another enormous piece of work on immunology – the theme behind this year’s conference – and we are pleased to publish this in the Journal. The Journal of IiME was created as a means of providing a broad spectrum of information on ME, combining biomedical research, information, news, views, stories and other articles relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis . Invest in ME was set up with the objectives of making a change in how ME is perceived and treated in the press, by health departments and by healthcare professionals. We aim to do this by www.investinme.org Page 4 of 108
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