Question
I understand the ME Association provides annual funding to the UK ME/CFS biobank (UKMEB). Please can you provide more details about the UKMEB?
Answer
The ME Association (MEA) has supported the UK ME/CFS Biobank (UKMEB) from the outset and remains the only UK charity ensuring its continued operation.
Since 2009, we have invested £1.1M in this vital resource and will cover annual running costs until at least the end of 2027.
The UKMEB was opened in 2011 by the CureME team at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, following a feasibility study. It initially received funding from the National Institutes of Health in America and UK charities including the MEA.
The Biobank is internationally recognised for quality and efficiency, including its provision for people severely affected by ME/CFS, who can provide blood samples and be assessed at home.
Samples and data from the UKMEB have supported ME/CFS research in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East. The resulting publications are widely cited and continue to advance knowledge and understanding of ME/CFS.
“The LSHTM CureME team welcomes the yearly funding from the MEA Ramsay Research Fund, as it greatly facilitates further blood collection, the storage of samples and data, and dissemination of information around the UK ME/CFS Biobank.”
Caroline Kingdon, Research Fellow, and Biobank Coordinator
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
We recommend that the medical information is discussed with your doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for personalised medical advice or treatment. You should consult your doctor whenever a new symptom arises, or an existing symptom worsens. It is important to obtain medical advice that considers other causes and possible treatments. Do not assume that new or worsened symptoms are solely because of ME/CFS or Long Covid.