Journal of IiMER June 2024 Invest in ME Research Fellowships The first Fellowship for ME was launched in collaboration with Quadram Institute followed soon after by the second fellowship. The charity decided to name the first fellowship as The Ian Gibson Fellowship for ME – in agreement with Dr Ian Gibson’s wife. Dr Gibson passed away in 2021 and was a great supporter of people with ME and of the charity. This first fellowship for ME recognises Dr Gibson's great influence in supporting people with ME and in helping the charity move ahead with facilitating the research programme and centre for research into ME. Dr Gibson was a unique MP in that he understood the science and politics and was always interested in all kinds of views, and was consistently engaged in debates spanning diverse issues. He was a steadfast advocate for the underdog, lending his voice to those often ignored. This profound commitment to fairness and justice manifested not only in his advocacy but also in his resolute support for organisations that echoed his ethos. It is why he aligned himself with a volunteerdriven charity such as Invest in ME Research. In recognising the intrinsic value of every effort, regardless of size or financial backing, he embodied the transformative power of standing alongside those tirelessly Invest in ME Research working for change, emphasising that true impact arises from the heart, not just the spotlight - something that perfectly describes our supporters. The Ian Gibson Fellowship is being performed by Dr Katharine Seton and continues her career in research into ME at Quadram Institute. Recently, Dr Seton completed her PhD that was funded by Invest in ME Research and the University of East Anglia [2]. This is an important step in supporting the continuity of the research strategy for ME that has been well established and is being performed and planned at Quadram Institute and University of East Anglia. Details of some of Dr Seton’s planned research will include determining the contribution of the intestinal microbiome to oxidative stress in ME patients and whether this can cause alterations in immune function, accelerating premature immune ageing in patients. She also plans to determine the impact of microbiota replacement therapy (MRT) on intestinal and systemic oxidative stress in ME patients. This will be the first study to directly assess intestinal microbiome contribution to oxidative stress in ME patients. Identifying the source of oxidative stress and its impact on immune cell function will enable the development of treatment options to break this cycle. Page 7 of 32
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