Research Awards 2006/2007

Non-recurring sum of £12,500

An allocation of £12,500 to support CFS/ME research in the North East and North Cumbria was made earlier this year by the Northern CFS/ME Clinical Network. This is a one-off sum from Department of Health project funds 2004 – 2006.

Applications were invited from NHS staff, independent contractors and other charities or agencies, and to individuals or teams. The closing date was 28th July 2006.

An awards panel drawn from the Regional and Local steering groups considered a range of applications. With limited funds available decisions were difficult, in order to achieve the best value for CFS/ME patients it was agreed to part fund three separate studies. The results are as follows:

1) Dr Julia Newton - Consultant Physician RVI Newcastle
“Examining structural and functional abnormalities of brain, heart and muscle using MRI in those with CFS/ME”
An award of £6,800 was made – an assurance has been received that the full study outlined will be completed with additional funding from other sources.

2) Dr John Allen – Principal Medical Physicist – Freeman Hospital Newcastle
“Multi-site peripheral pulse wave assessment of postural vasomotor reflexes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome”
An award of £4,200 was made – an assurance has been made that the full study outlined will be completed with additional funding sourced elsewhere. The funds awarded will secure the purchase of the all-important Tilt-Table to enable the study to go ahead (presently not available at Freeman Hospital)

3) Mr Norman Wilson – Social Worker (Team Manager) – Sunderland
“Social Care Support Services for those diagnosed with ME/CFS”
An award of £1500 was made and we await a decision regarding the feasibility of the completion of this study with reduced funding, or whether match-funding will be secured.

All three successful candidates have been asked to submit a short article for the winter edition of Focus outlining their research plans. We look forward to producing these for you.

ME North East wish to establish a Northern Region Research Award Scheme.
Dr Gavin Spickett Northern Region Clinical Champion fully endorses our efforts. We would work with the Northern CFS/ME Clinical Network and The Fatigue Interest Group chaired by Dr Julia Newton and all donations would be ring-fenced for CFS/ME research purposes. If anyone has any ideas how we can develop this, or wishes to make a donation, please contact us we would be delighted to hear from you