The UK CFS/ME Research Collaborative (CMRC) was established in April 2013 as a working group of researchers, research funding organisations and M.E. charities.

The ME Association is an active member of the Executive Board.

Purpose

To promote the discovery of the biological mechanisms that underpin CFS/ME, which, together with clinical observation, will drive the development of targeted new treatments for this highly underserved patient population.

Objectives

• To design, implement and analyse the outcome of a cross-stakeholder,
  comprehensive, national research strategy for CFS/ME and experimental medicine.
• To create an open cross-sector platform for effective knowledge-exchange and data sharing both nationally and internationally, in order to optimise research, raise awareness of the disease, and influence policymakers and investors.

Values

• We are an intellectually generous community sharing data, best practice and technologies.
• We are a creative community harnessing new ideas, new technologies and new ways of working.
• We are a collaborative community inviting all stakeholders to join our programmes and shape our activity.
• We are an enabling community, facilitating the leverage of further resources for CFS/ME research.

For more details please see the 2018 CMRC overview.

Background

The CMRC is chaired by Stephen Holgate from the University of Southampton who is also Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Professor of Immunopharmacology and Honorary Consultant Physician. It was largely because of Professor Holgate’s involvement in the MRC Expert Group on ME/CFS and his continuing determination to discover the underlying causes of the disease and find effective forms of treatment, that the collaborative was born.

The ME Association, as an active member of the MRC Expert Group, also supported Professor Holgate in establishing the CMRC and strongly believes in the importance of this working partnership – especially in helping to bring ME/CFS to the recognition of mainstream science as a legitimate biomedical disease in desperate need of increased funding.

CMRC Executive

For more information about the terms of reference for the executive board and who the current members are, visit this page.

Joining the CMRC

If you would like to join the CMRC or are interested in further details about the different forms of membership, visit the bottom of this page.

CMRC Meeting Summaries

The CMRC executive board meet at least quarterly and hold an AGM in April each year. Following each meeting they make summaries publicly available. You can read them on this page of our website.

CMRC Research Conferences

• The ME Association 2018 CMRC Conference Report
  Includes reviews from recipients of MEA student bursaries.
• 2017 Bristol conference.
• 2016 Newcastle conference, and the CMRC UK research funding report.
• 2015 Newcastle conference.
• 2014 Bristol conference

Visit the other pages in this section:

• Research Projects:
  RRF investment in infrastructure and laboratory research.
• Published Research:
  RRF studies from 2000 to present; PACE Trial reanalysis and critical commentary, and MEA illness management reports and critical trial reviews; MEA research summaries and research updates.
• Volunteering for Research:
  ME/CFS research requiring volunteers.
• CFS/ME Research Collaborative:
  The ME Association is an active member of the Executive Board of the CMRC. Here you can learn more about this organisation, become a member, read the conference reviews, and meeting summaries.