Journal of IiMER May 2025 Invest in ME Research Fellowships Invest in ME Research, in partnership with the Quadram Institute, has established two key fellowships based at Norwich Research Park: the Ian Gibson Fellowship and the LunaNova Fellowship. These fellowships are designed to advance biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), focusing on understanding disease mechanisms and developing new treatments. Both fellowships address the critical need for dedicated ME research funding and expertise in the UK. They strengthen the research base at the centre, and support ongoing clinical trials and PhD studentships. Ian Gibson Fellowship Launched in 2022 and named in honour of Dr Ian Gibson, this is the first postdoctoral fellowship in the UK dedicated to ME research. The fellowship supports fundamental biomedical studies, particularly in gut health, microbiology, and immunology. It is part of the broader strategy to develop further a UK Centre of Excellence for ME at Norwich Research Park, ensuring continuity and growth of ME research in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. LunaNova Fellowship Introduced in 2023 and funded by the technology company LunaNova, this two-year fellowship further expands ME research capacity at the Quadram Institute. The LunaNova Fellowship focuses on the gut-immune-brain axis and the search for biomarkers, with strong links to international partners, including the European ME Research Group. This collaborative approach brings together expertise from across Europe and supports the development of a robust research ecosystem for ME. Our LunaNova fellowship – Krishani Perera Dr Krishani Perera, PhD, was awarded the Invest in ME Research Luna Nova Fellowship and joined Professor Simon Carding’s laboratory at the Quadram Institute of Bioscience (QIB) in Norwich in July 2024. As a recent entrant to the field of ME research, Krishani is highly motivated to contribute to ongoing investigations into the causes and treatment options for ME/CFS at QIB. Her two-year fellowship will focus on understanding the link between the reactivation of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs)-genes embedded within our genome, usually kept inactive-and the accelerated ageing of immune cells in ME/CFS patients. This work is based on clues from previous studies which have shown either dysfunctional immune cells, signs of premature ageing, or the reactivation of different HERV families in people with ME/CFS. Krishani’s project aims to demonstrate a causal link between these findings, exploring whether the reactivation of HERVs plays a key role in cellular and immunosenescence, which could help explain the origins of Page 7 of 43 Invest in ME Research
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