Our International Roundup provides a brief snapshot of some of the ME/CFS research funding, clinical care and advocacy actions around the world in the last few months.
Research funding & conferences
- UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is seeking applications for research to accelerate the treatment and management of long COVID and ME/CFS. The grant of up to £200,000 will fund the development of a Phase 2 platform trial that can test multiple repurposed medications.
https://www.meresearch.org.uk/nihr-announce-a-funding-opportunity-for-research-into-the-treatment-and-management-of-post-acute-infection-syndromes-including-long-covid-and-me-cfs/ - The WE&ME Foundation, a private foundation in Austria, will provide €450,000 (AUD800,000) in research funding via its newly established WE&ME Award. The Foundation was founded by the Ströck family which has two family members living with ME/CFS.
https://www.weandmecfs.org/news/gemeinsam-gegen-me-cfs-we-me-award-unterstützt-forschung-mit-450-000-euro - Initial results of the DecodeME genome-wide association study have been published. The study has received media attention around the world. The research group is now raising funds to undertake a follow up study.
https://www.decodeme.org.uk/initial-dna-results/ - The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) has funded 7 new ME/CFS research projects in the second round of its funding grants. A requirement for the funding is that the projects involve collaboration and are focussed on biomedical aspects of the condition.
https://www.zonmw.nl/nl/nieuws/subsidie-voor-7-nieuwe-biomedische-onderzoeken-naar-mecvs
Clinical Care & Support
- The UK government is funding the development of a self-management app for people living with long COVID, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS and POTS.
https://open-oh.com - The World ME Alliance has published a very brief guide: Supporting People with Severe and Very Severe ME/CFS: A Resource Guide for Clinicians. The guide was developed in partnership with the Severe ME Advocacy group and is available in both English and French.
https://worldmealliance.org/2025/08/new-clinician-resource-guide-published-for-severe-me-day-2025/ - The Irish Health Service Executive has been funded to develop the first clinical guideline for ME/CFS in Ireland.
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/me/me.html
Advocacy
- The UK government’s Final Delivery Plan for ME/CFS has been published. The plan covers three topics: research, attitudes and education, and living with ME/CFS, and provides recommended actions to address each.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan/myalgic-encephalomyelitischronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan
The response from UK ME/CFS organisations has been mixed, noting that the plan does not include significant funding for research, and that concerns of people with ME/CFS have been ignored or overlooked.
Action for ME: “Whilst there are elements of the Plan that will have a positive impact, it simply does not go far enough to ensure that its desired outcomes will be achieved.”
ME Association: “While [the plan] is an important step forward, there are several key areas where the plan has failed to deliver.” - #MEAction published a gallery of art produced by people living with severe ME/CFS for Severe ME Day. The Severe ME Artists Project included over 100 submissions in a wide range of mediums, including painting, digital art, video, and writing.
https://www.meaction.net/severe-me-artists-project-2024 - An Early Day Motion (EDM) was tabled in the UK parliament, stating that the government’s Final Delivery Plan for ME/CFS “falls short of delivering the meaningful change urgently needed by people with ME/CFS”. The motion notes the absence of a strategic approach to research and the need for greater accountability for implementing services and clinical education in line with the updated NICE guidelines. The motion has been signed by 34 MPs.
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/64248/final-delivery-plan-on-myalgic-encephalomyelitischronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs