Journal of IiMER Conference – symbolising the huge potential and hope coming from the efforts of dedicated Norwegian biomedical researchers. Both the Colloquium and Conference are high quality, forward-looking events that serve to improve knowledge of this disease, generate, and improve international collaboration into ME. A high quality, professionally produced DVD of the conference proceedings will be produced as always – not a small task for a small charity – but it continues to serve not just as a historical record but also a means to educate doctors and clinicians about the seriousness of this disease. The DVDs have been distributed to twenty countries proving the increasing interest in research into this disease. We were pleased to see that the US NIH listed as its goals for ME research the following - Advance research on the cause, prevention, diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of ME/CFS Encourage biomedical research investigators and organizations to study ME/CFS Communicate ME/CFS research information among and between NIH Institutes and Centres, and the NIH Office of the Director The first two goals are similar to those that Invest in ME Research have been promoting and implementing for the past eleven years and have mentioned in our letters to the UK MRC, Department of Health and others in the position of influence. The third has elements that epitomise the IiMER strategy as our proposal for a Centre of Excellence for ME – something we have been aiming for since 2010 – now develops. Progress has inevitably been too slow from the patients’ perspective but as we pass into our twelfth year as a charity, more and more signs and developments are indicating that things are changing. Research into ME has needed a strategy – it was www.investinme.org Page 7 of 82 surely missing when IiMER was formed and has continued to elude the major UK funding organisations. Yet the Invest in ME Research strategy of bringing in researchers from other fields to help and improve biomedical research into ME was a necessity. It has been successful and well worth the effort and cost and we can witness this approach becoming more popular. Our conferences bring together patients, researchers, clinicians and healthcare staff and allow knowledge and experiences to be shared – and IIMEC11 and BRMEC7 will see us entering our twelfth year in doing this. We will see many new faces in London as well as old friends. Back to the theme of collaboration and highquality research with a purpose. Let us remember again these words that illustrate the Invest in ME Research approach to research into ME and the raising of awareness - "Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." Precisely the ethos of the Invest in ME Research Biomedical Research Colloquiums and Conferences! Welcome to London - Welcome to IIMEC12 and BRMEC7 Kathleen McCall CHAIRMAN INVEST IN ME RESEARCH
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