We’re pleased to share news of a new PhD project that is being jointly funded by the MEA Ramsay Research fund and the UKRI (UK Research Institute) that aims to accelerate biomarker discovery in ME/CFS by identifying unknown metabolites and uncovering evidence of infection.
Metabolites are substances produced or consumed during metabolism—the chemical processes by which the body breaks down food, drugs, environmental chemicals, or its own tissues to generate energy and maintain function. These metabolites can be measured and mapped onto known biological pathways, including those disrupted by infection, to reveal how they contribute to disease mechanisms and progression.
PhD candidate Aleyna Lumsden, under the supervision of Dr Bela Paizs and Professor Karl Morten, will use the facilities across the Rosalind Franklin Institute (RFI), Imperial College London, and the National Phenome Centre, using advanced informatics and mass spectrometry to investigate biological signatures of ME/CFS.
The three-year project tackles a major challenge in the field: many metabolites detected in ME/CFS remain unidentified, and traditional lab methods, such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) are too slow or sample-intensive for large-scale studies. This research will apply faster, more sensitive techniques to overcome these barriers.
Why it matters
ME/CFS lacks reliable diagnostic tests, contributing to misdiagnosis, reduced research participation, and limited treatment options. Metabolomics — the study of small molecules that reflect real-time biological activity — offers a promising route to uncovering disease mechanisms, including immune dysfunction and infection.
Project aims
The study will focus on identifying unknown molecules that differ between ME/CFS patients and healthy controls. It will combine:
- Use of high-precision lab machines to separate and measure thousands of tiny molecules in blood or urine, (known as Ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMS) with liquid chromatography and tandem MS (LC-MS/MS)).
- Advance computer simulations that predict how each molecule behaves and breaks apart in the lab (known as fragmentation patterns).
- Cross-validating techniques which will double-check the most promising finds with follow-up tests to confirm their identities and then map these onto biological pathways.
By integrating experimental and computational approaches, this project aims to build a rapid workflow for identifying ME/CFS biomarkers — paving the way for future diagnostics and targeted treatments.
“At the heart of our mission lies a single goal: to transform the lives of people enduring the daily, invisible burdens of ME/CFS. Through a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach and the bold use of advanced technologies, we strive to break boundaries and do things differently – increasing the chance of uncovering the biomarker that could change everything for patients who have waited far too long for the clinical attention they deserve.”
Miss Aleyna Lumsden
“I am interested in developing new technologies which make biomarker discovery more efficient and help clinicians understand pathologies better.”
Dr. Bela Paizs, supervisor.
“Our research into ME/CFS is moving forward with the help of new technologies. The RFI metabolite discovery project, led by Dr Bela Paizs and Miss Aleyna Lumsden, plays a vital role in this progress. By identifying the molecules that may contribute to ME/CFS, this work will help us better understand what drives the illness—and ultimately support the development of new treatments.”
Professor Karl Morten, supervisor