|
From Invest in ME
The 6th
International ME/CFS Conference 2011 took place on 20th May 2011 in
Westminster, London and was attended by presenters and delegates from 20 countries
and four continents.
To the presenters we extend our grateful
thanks for the biomedical research being
performed.
We would
like to thank the presenters and delegates for attending the
conference and contributing to another day
showing the progress being achieved by
biomedical research. Many travelled
from afar and the conference was a success
because of all of our supporters.
The
conferences are meant to provide a platform
for high quality biomedical research into ME
and only the most blinkered of observers
could have failed to see the potential to
progress in treatment of this disease if
more funding were directed to such research.
It also continued to show the promise and
real hope of treatments for this illness
based on science and proper investigations.
We hope that everyone left not only with an
enhanced knowledge gained from the
conference but also with renewed hope for
development of more treatments for myalgic
encephalomyelitis.
The breadth of knowledge, science and
experience regarding ME, as discussed and presented at the conference,
is not only impressive but also exciting.
This year
the conference concentrated on the case for
clinical trials and left no one in
doubt about the serious consequences of this
illness.
The conference for 2011 demonstrated
the possibilities for clinical trials and showed again the urgent need
for more funding for biomedical research and the sure progress being
made by those committed professionals with a clear strategy for
scientific advancement.
Invest in ME will produce a DVD of the
conference
containing the complete presentations at the conference plus interviews
and plenary session, with any profits
from sales going directly to biomedical research activities. Our web site contains details
of how to order
-
click here.
We hope that the many contacts which
were established at the conference will continue and we hope to remain
in contact with as many of you as possible.
Invest in ME organised six events
during the conference days - including a visit to parliament with some
of the presenters to meet MPs at a special All Party Parliamentary Group
meeting. Our "Corridor Conference" - Researchers Meeting was also
instrumental in progressing new contacts and ideas.
The Science, Politics and ME
pre-conference presentation will be available on the conference DVD.
The
researchers showed the clear evidence of
the organic basis of this disease and
possible causes.
Invest
in ME invited a number of researchers,
politicians, media persons and
healthcare staff to come to the
conference at our expense in order to
improve understanding and distribution
of correct information about ME.
Our
attempts to bring in establishment
organisations to listen to the foremost
research on ME were less successful.
Our Journal of IiME, together with
the conference section, is available on
our web site. If anyone has difficulties
in obtaining it then please email
info@investinme.org.
The conference for 2011 showed the urgent
need for more funding for biomedical
research and the sure progress being made by
those committed professionals with a clear
strategy for scientific advancement.
So what's
next?
For Invest in ME there are some new
ideas we shall be working on in the next months. We
will be continuing our efforts to fund more biomedical research and
attempting to establish our proposal for a biomedical research and
examination facility in Norfolk - something which uses the NHS and
existing facilities as a basis for provision of research, examinations
and treatments for all patients.
We shall also be working with our
colleagues in the European ME Alliance which has now grown to be eleven
countries in Europe.
During the conference weekend the EMEA held
its AGM and we shall be continuing to work
together on initiatives which will benefit
patients in Europe and beyond.
We look forward to developments in
treatments being progressed and hope that our continued lobbying will
make the relevant authorities aware that only good science will prevail.
We firmly believe the dedication of researchers and patient
groups will soon provide real progress for people with ME and their
families.
Invest in ME published its Journal of IiME [click
here] at the conference
and abstracts of the conference presenters'
presentations are included therein.
Please
use the links above to branch to different aspects of the
conference.
We value
and appreciate all the comments and feedback which we
received and we shall use these to attempt to improve the
conference for 2011.
Please follow developments in our
newsletters - which are free for everyone.
Invest in ME would like to thank the Irish ME Trust
for helping us in sponsoring a  speaker at the
conference.
We would also
like to express our thanks for all of the support we
received - both before and after the conference - from our
supporters.
Conference Report
More detail on the conference weekend events from IiME are
available here.
A Conference Report has been prepared by Rosamund Vallings of the
Associated New Zealand ME Society -
click here.
Support ME Awareness
Invest in ME |
