Dr Inga Williams is seeking participants for a study that she hopes will shed light on the symptom ‘fatigue’.
Supervised by Professor Karl Morten, she will begin her investigations by asking people with ME/CFS, Long Covid and their healthy relatives to come to Oxford and have a scan of their brain waves and have biological samples taken.
The ME Association is not funding this study, but we are very happy to support Dr Williams, and we hope we can help to find some willing participants.
We asked Dr Williams some questions about the study:
- Who is funding the study and how much is the grant?
My study is funded solely through the generosity of friends, patients, and my family.
- Why do you think ‘fatigue' has any association with ‘brain waves'?
Few groups have examined electroencephalogram (EEG) in ME/CFS and Long Covid, and although they have reported EEG changes suggestive of underlying brain pathology, these studies have not related such findings to other markers of cerebral inflammation. It is precisely this gap that my study aims to address.
- What exactly are you looking for when analysing the samples you refer to e.g. hair?
I will be investigating the presence and prevalence of postinfection pathological fatigue syndrome (PIPFS)-specific microbial species, biomarkers of barrier integrity, and inflammatory markers. In addition, we will explore the presence or absence of certain isotopes in hair samples, as well as dietary biomarkers in blood, and examine how these relate to diet and to biomarkers of barrier integrity, among other factors.
- What tests will you perform on the samples?
With regard to tests performed on the samples (see point 3 above), we will employ a range of methods, including metagenomic sequencing, ELISAs, flow cytometry, and chromatography–combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry, among others.
- It had previously been indicated this study would include other illnesses that feature ‘fatigue' as a symptom, but your posters are only about ME/CFS and LC. Why?
The study comprises several components and includes a number of PIPFS, such as post‑treatment chronic Lyme disease. The study for which we are currently recruiting participants (with your kind help) focuses on three groups: (1) individuals with ME/CFS, (2) individuals with Long Covid, and (3) their healthy relatives.
- How many people are you hoping to recruit (ME/CFS/LC/Healthy)?
As our resources are limited (see point 1), this project is designed to recruit 20 participants in each of the three groups.
- What does participation involve?
Participation involves a single study visit, lasting approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. More detailed information can be found in the attached Recruitment Information Sheet.
More information:
If you would like to learn more about the study, or wish to participate, do please contact Dr Inga Williams: inga.williams@wrh.ox.ac.uk