Dr Charles Shepherd is now a member of the government's research strategy working group and the first meeting was held last week. Nicola Anson (MEA Trustee) will join the Attitudes & Education working group, and Russell Fleming (Communications Manager) will join the Living with ME/CFS working group. These have been organised as part of the Government's commitment to improve research and healthcare, and we hope to report on the outcome of these meetings in due course.
Meeting with Sajid Javid
Health Secretary Sajid Javid had a meeting on the 9th June 2022 to discuss ME/CFS research. Dr Shepherd (MEA Hon. Medical Adviser) was happy to attend along with researchers, charity and patient representatives, with representatives from the government bodies who fund research (MRC, NIHR), and with Professor Lucy Chappell – the DHSC Chief Scientific Advisor.
I met with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) experts alongside @LucyChappell2 to discuss what needs to be done to better understand the condition.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) June 9, 2022
Those affected have been neglected for too long. I am committed to more research & a cross-govt plan. pic.twitter.com/MbbGKxlf4p
Topics discussed
- Research priorities identified by the JLA PSP
- The clinical and pathological overlaps with Long Covid
- The need to encourage new researchers into ME/CFS
- Issues relating to how the charities and government bodies are funding research and how this could be improved.
List of Attendees
Health Secretary Sajid Javid
Professor Lucy Chappell – the DHSC Chief Scientific Advisor
Dr David Strain, University of Exeter; Medical Adviser for Action for ME
Prof Sir Stephen Holgate, University of Southampton
Prof Chris Pointing, University of Edinburgh
Prof Hazel Dockrell, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Prof Julia Newton, Newcastle University
Prof David Price, Cardiff University
Prof Manju Kurian, Institute of Child Health, University College London
Prof Ian Bruce, University of Manchester
Prof Maureen Hanson, Cornell University, U.S
Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive Action for ME
Dr Charles Shepherd, Honorary Medical Adviser to the ME Association
Jonathan Davies, Chair of ME Research UK
Debbie Smith, Steering Group, Priority Setting Partnership
Andrew Morris, Chair of Forward ME