Journal of IiMER June 2024 researchers, driving international initiatives that support and strengthen our shared mission. Our work has facilitated the foundations of the Centre of Excellence for ME firmly in place in Norwich Research Park,a source of hope for advancing research and developing treatments. The one missing element – adequate funding – would expedite and complete our efforts for the benefit of all patients. In the last parliamentary debate on ME, we laid out a bold vision for research, proposing a substantial allocation to kick-start biomedical research and support the foundations that we have laid. We recently made a document to update all MPs on the opportunities that have been created. Likewise, we have made the case for investment in the centre in Norwich Research Park in the UK DHSC/UKCRC though, unfortunately, our ideas have neither been fully distributed nor discussed, resulting in no tangible progress being achieved in two years of meetings. Our involvement in the recent far more productive NIH Roadmap Research Programme has guided our Colloquium planning, shaping this year's theme - "Acknowledging the acceptance by both clinicians and researchers of 'THE INFECTIOUS AETIOLOGY’ of ME/CFS" focuses on uncovering the complexities of ME, exploring acute infection, chronic infection, and co-infection. And asking What's Next?' The conference and colloquium are ideal timing as they directly follow from the NIH Roadmap report to be published just before our International Conference Week - so much to discuss and plan. The colloquium, especially, has proven to be important in bringing together researchers. Last year was the first time that the charity had organised in person events in conference week since the pandemic began. Invest in ME Research In the 2017 Colloquium, a new approach had been established for structuring the presentations in sessions to focus more effort in determining the information that was relevant to making progress. Session chairs were tasked with asking presenters to consider - • What we know (proven) • What we think we know (unproven) • What we need to know • How (who?) should the gaps be filled? • How does this relate to other strategies/research? We were pleased to see that the recent NIH Roadmap of webinars during 2023-24 had adopted this same approach to use for structuring their webinars. Our colloquiums and conferences provide an international platform for education and collaboration - uniting professionals, patients, researchers, early-career researchers, doctors, nurses, the media, and ME - and bridging the clinical and research divide to focus on benefits for patients - a testament to our commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange over almost two decades. The name of our charity truly becomes the main calling for all interested in resolving this disease. Whatever the disappointing experiences from the last two years of the DHSC/UKCRC project we still believe there are the building blocks already in place in the UK and Europe which just require a little ambition and courage and one important factor – funding. What better slogan to use at this point in time than the one that this small charity has uniquely been promoting for so long? Time to #InvestinMEresearch. Welcome to our conference week. Kathleen McCall Page 3 of 32
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