The ME Association (The MEA), founded in 1976 funds and supports research and provides information and support, education and training.
In this role, we benefit people with ME (myalgic encephalopathy)/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), professionals and all others interested in the illness.
The Ramsay Research Fund is the research arm of The ME Association – the UK’s longest-established national ME/CFS charity. It is named after Dr Melvin Ramsay, an infectious diseases consultant who documented a major outbreak of the illness at London’s Royal Free Hospital in 1955.
Current research projects include a scheme to set up a central ME tissue bank in a UK hospital. It is important to be able to identify any anomalies in the brain, spine and muscle tissue of people with ME/CFS which can be used as unique markers of ME/CFS. Tissue samples can be made available to any research group wanting to make use of them. Tissue banks already exist for Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological conditions, and the Fund wishes to follow these examples.
The RRF is also funding a study at the University of Newcastle into abnormalities in muscle physiology which may indicate where there is skeletal muscle involvement in the exercise-induced fatigue which is a hallmark symptom of ME/CFS. This study will take forward findings from small studies that have already examined this aspect of muscle function.
The RRF has also recently finished funding a key phase of important new research at Glasgow Caledonian University into the genetic profiles of people with ME/CFS, which will hopefully lead to a diagnostic test and effective forms of treatment.
XMRV retrovirus and ME/CFS:Funding from the Ramsay Research Fund could be made available very quickly if we receive a good quality research proposal arising out of the study published by the Whittemore-Peterson Institute on Thursday, 8 October 2009.
Each piece of research adds to the bigger picture about this illness. With your support we can continue to seek scientific evidence that will show that this illness is a real and physical one. This, in turn, will lead us to better treatments for people with ME/CFS.
To download our research leaflets which contain much more information, click on the links below:
The Tissue Bank leaflet explains progress made so far on the exciting project, and details how you can best arrange your own tissue donation in the interests of research.
TO MAKE A SECURE ONLINE DONATION TO THE RAMSAY RESEARCH FUND, PLEASE CLICK ON THE BOX BELOW.
MEA Board of Trustees and Panel of Advisers
ME Association Board of Trustees
Chairman Neil Riley
Vice-Chairman Ba Stafford
Hon Treasurer Ewan Dale
Trustees
Mark Douglas, Rick Osman, Dr Charles Shepherd, Janet Thomas (co-opted)
(Company Secretary, Gill Briody)
Panel of Advisers
Hon Medical Adviser Dr Charles Shepherd
Hon Paediatric Medical Adviser Dr Nigel Speight
Additional Hon Medical Adviser Dr Anne Macintyre
Hon Dental Adviser Dr Richard Cantillon
Hon Consultant on Psychology Dr Ellen Goudsmit
Information and support
The ME Association provides information and support on ME/CFS to people with ME/CFS, their parents, carers, health professionals, partners and many others. We strive to develop professional and quality information materials and services.
Members receive a magazine from The ME Association on a quarterly basis. It's called ME Essential. It covers our research news, and keeps members up-to-date with medical and scientific developments.
It is vitally important that you and others are kept informed of the latest research and development findings so that you can develop the ability to manage your symptoms effectively and improve your quality of life.
The ME Association funds its services through subscriptions, donations and fundraising; for example:
Membership, donations, Donate As You Spend, payroll giving, sponsored activity, Gift Aid, sponsored literature, legacies and gifts, The Great Weather Lottery, Webb Ivory catalogues, merchandising
Policies and Documents
In this section we are building up a collection of general documents for our website visitors to download.
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About The ME Association
