Journal of IiME Volume 9 Issue 1 May 2015 Invest in ME – 10 Years On Ros Vallings The first ME/CFS conference I attended was in Dublin in 1994. I had been involved in a small research project with patients with ME/CFS, and that conference sparked my interest further. Research into the illness was just beginning to tick over and I remember a presentation by Mary Ann Fletcher on the role of the immune system – citing NK cells and cytokines – a new language for me, as a GP seeing a few patients with the illness – already acknowledged as some sort of “expert” in NZ as I had actually heard of the illness (dubbed Royal Fee disease when I was a student in London). From then on I was caught, and since then have attended many International ME/CFS conferences including many of the previous nine organised by Invest in ME, headed by Kathleen McCall. I have gradually learnt the “language” which seems to grow by the year, and I am sure what I have learnt can have only increased my understanding of this complex illness, and hopefully benefitted my patients. At that first Invest in ME conference we heard of the work of Jonathan Kerr identifying genomic changes – an exciting development. Dr Ros Vallings Dr. Rosamund Vallings has over three decades experience in the field of CFS / ME and is one of New Zealand’s leading authority on the disease. She was recognized by the Queen in the 2008 New Year’s Honours when awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). Dr. Vallings has served voluntarily for over 27 years as President of the ANZMES and latterly as Medical Advisor and Committee Member Invest in ME is a remarkable organization. From small beginnings and hard fundraising, it has grown to be internationally acknowledged as a unique leader, both in conference organization and spreading information worldwide about ME/CFS. The conferences have become particularly special with the inclusion of closed symposia for over 80 invited attendees ahead of the conference itself. This year will be the 5th such addition and will spread over 2 days. These symposia/colloquia are unique in that, as well as specially invited top ME/CFS researchers and clinicians, invitees have included researchers from other disciplines with potential Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) www.investinme.org Page 10 of 57
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