Journal of IiMER Dr Ian Gibson led an inquiry into ME in 2006 [2]. Without official funding, and at a time when unbiased and independent analysis on the way ME was being treated and reported on by the establishment organisations and media was lacking, Dr Gibson provided a checkpoint which attempted to get publicity and force change which would help ME patients. The Inquiry's report made several recommendations [3]. That the then Labour government ignored the report, and its recommendations, will forever cast a shadow on the health minister at the time and on the government itself. Since that time Dr Gibson has been influential in assisting IiMER get high-quality biomedical research established in Europe. He has also chaired the IiMEC* conferences. After 12 years of IIMEC* conferences, and following the tenth anniversary of the Gibson Inquiry, and when change was slowly managing to creep into establishment organisations, Dr continues to be the subject of misrepresentation, inappropriate media reporting, ineffective research funding and a pervading prejudice that needs to be exposed. Dr Gibson is familiar with the political events in the UK, how they affect healthcare and patients and how some organisations and individuals are unduly influencing these policies. It is important to understand the politics of ME and how the ‘establishment’ in most countries reacts. Dr Gibson, and co-author Elaine Sherriffs, started interviews with knowledgeable individuals following the IiMER London conference and established new contacts. Dr Gibson and Elaine visited or interviewed researchers, clinicians, advocates, patients, carers and others to produce this an analysis of ME - the Science and Politics behind the way ME is treated. Gibson felt it was necessary to look at the way that politics and the actions of some have influenced the way ME has been, and www.investinme.org Although heavily constrained by the limited funds that the charity was able to raise interviews were carried out by Elaine and Dr Gibson – and included a visit to Stockholm, Sweden, where they spoke with patients, clinicians, researchers and politicians from Sweden and other countries. The project was aided by a generous donation Page 21 of 82
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