The Morten research group aims to bring forward the day when ME/CFS can be cured, through cutting-edge biomedical research.
OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH
ME/CFS is a devastating disease that affects over 250,0001 individuals in the UK. Despite being at least as disabling as diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Congestive Heart Failure2, ME/CFS remains one of the most poorly funded diseases.
The disease is often referred to as both and or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS is a multi-organ, life-changing disease that manifests with a range of symptoms - some of which vary from patient to patient. As such the complexity of symptoms can make the condition difficult to diagnose. Learn more about the signs and symptoms here.
At present, there is no reliable biomarker for ME/CFS. Diagnoses of ME/CFS are based on manifesting clinical symptoms and there is high inter-patient variability of more complex symptoms/auxiliary and physiological abnormalities, however, amongst physicians, crucially, the symptom of post-exertional malaise (PEM) is increasingly being recognised as inseparable to the manifestation of the disease. Read more about diagnosis here.
KEY PROJECTS
We are currently exploring the potential utility of Raman spectroscopy to diagnose ME/CFS. |
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We are utilising multiple technologies to try to understand which factors could be driving the disease. |
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Determining if abnormal profiles of L-form bacteria could be causal in ME/CFS. |
REFERENCES
[1] Nacul LC, Lacerda EM, Pheby D, et al. Prevalence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in three regions of England: a repeated cross-sectional study in primary care. BMC Med 2011; 9: 91.
[2] Komaroff AL, Fagioli LR, Doolittle TH, et al. Health status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and in general population and disease comparison groups. Am J Med 1996; 101: 281–90.