This year, 21 new research projects will begin in Germany, including six new research collaborations (20 subprojects) and a single project to study the disease mechanisms of ME/CFS. With funding of around 15 million euros from the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research), central hypotheses regarding the development of the disease are to be further researched and biomarkers developed over the next three years.
On September 12, 2023, the BMBF announced that it would support research into ME/CFS with a total of 15 million euros as part of a new “Guideline for the funding of interdisciplinary research networks to investigate the pathomechanisms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)” (see our summary and commentary on the BMBF funding guidelineVarious research groups in Germany submitted their projects under the ministry's call for proposals. Last week, BMBF announced the funded projects.
"ME/CFS research in Germany has the opportunity to markedly advance in the coming years. Most research projects within the new BMBF funding programme are very translational in their approach, in order to gain insights to improve diagnostics and develop targeted treatments. The nationwide collaboration and close cooperation between leading research institutions also attests to the growing recognition of ME/CFS in the field of science. This momentum must now be leveraged to expand and further fund research in the long term. Germany has the best prerequisites to become one of the world's leading research locations for ME/CFS and post-infectious diseases." commented Prof Carmen Scheibenbogen, Director of the Division of Immunodeficiencies and Post-infectious Diseases and the Charité Fatigue Center (CFC), Berlin, on the BMBF announcement when asked by the ME/CFS Research Foundation.
Summary of research projects
The new projects funded by BMBF consist of a total of six so-called research networks, i.e. joint projects made up of several working groups and sub-projects, as well as one stand-alone project. All projects are focussed on researching post-infectious ME/CFS, triggered e.g. by COVID-19 or the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The overall aim of all projects is to better understand the potential disease mechanisms of ME/CFS and to develop suitable biomarkers. The results of this translational research, i.e. the combination of basic and clinical research, are intended to create better conditions for future diagnostics and the investigation of treatments, e.g. in the context of clinical trials for the development of drugs.
Topics of the six research networks include the deciphering of the mechanisms that lead to the development of the cardinal symptom of ME/CFS, so-called post-exertional malaise (PEM). Subject of this research are molecular, immunological and imaging methods as well as the use of fitness trackers (BioSig-PEM). Another central topic is the research and development of biomarkers for autoimmunity in children and adolescents as well as adults (CURE-ME). With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), comprehensive studies will also be carried out on changes in the metabolism and immune system (MIRACLE). Other innovative approaches deal with the dysfunctional interaction between the immune system and the neurotransmitter serotonin, with different animal models (mouse and hamster) for ME/CFS to be developed for the first time (SERIMM). In addition, the dysfunction of neuronal networks in connection with sleep disorders and other core symptoms of the disease will be examined (SLEEP-NEURO-PATH). Another research network will focus on impaired vascular function and blood flow in ME/CFS, while also investigating mitochondria in muscle cells (VADYS-ME). Outside of the aforementioned research networks, one stand-alone project will look into the formation, frequency and role of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) antibodies in children and adults with ME/CFS (FAME).
All research projects can be accessed in the ME/CFS Research Register where they are linked to additional information on the investigators (to be accessed via the search function in Research Networks or Research ProjectsWe are planning further reports on the individual research networks. Further details will be announced on our website, in our newsletter and on social media.
Overview of all research networks and projects funded under the BMBF programme on ME/CFS disease mechanisms:
Research network: BioSig-PEM - Identification of biopathological signatures of post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS (external link)
Total funding: 2.489.273 €
- Sub-project: Immune profiling and blood morphology analyses (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Christian Puta, University Clinic Jena - Sub-project: Raman spectroscopic signatures of blood cells (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Anuradha Ramoji, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Jena - Sub-project: Investigation of PEM and ME/CFS-associated changes in tryptophan metabolism at the host and microbiome level (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Silvio Waschina, Kiel University (CAU) - Sub-project: Harmonised clinical phenotyping and biological signatures (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Martina Seifert, Charité - University Medicine Berlin - Sub-project: Harmonisation and standardisation of the diagnosis of PEM in ME/CFS patients (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Uta Behrends, University Hospital rechts der Isar (MRI TUM), Munich - Sub-project: Investigation of PEM and ME/CFS-associated tryptophan metabotypes (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Konrad Aden, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein – Kiel
View BioSig-PEM research network in ME/CFS Research Register
Research network: CURE-ME - Characterisation of autoimmune responses to identify targets in ME/CFS (external link)
Total funding: 1.817.508 €
- Sub-project: Clinical and immunological phenotyping, analysis of autoantigens and T and B cell communication (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Birgit Sawitzki, Charité - University Medicine Berlin - Sub-project: Clinical and immunological phenotyping and analysis of EBV autoantigens and autoantigens (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Uta Behrends, University Hospital rechts der Isar (MRI TUM), Munich
View CURE-ME research network in ME/CFS Research Register
Research network: MIRACLE - Clinical analyses of immunological and metabolic factors in ME/CFS (external link)
Total funding: 2.364.289 €
- Sub-project: Clinic, HDL proteome, and AI (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Elisabeth Schieffer, University Clinic Giessen and Marburg - Sub-project: Clinic and granulocytes (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Alexander Dejaco, University Clinic Regensburg
View MIRACLE research network in ME/CFS Research Register
Research network: SERIMM - Serotonin and immunomodulation in ME/CFS (external link)
Total funding: 1.728.975 €
- Sub-project: Clinical characterisation for biomarker discovery (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Helena Radbruch, Charité - University Medicine Berlin - Sub-project: Development and analysis of a SARS-CoV-2-induced golden hamster animal model for ME/CFS (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Michael Muehlebach, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI), Langen - Sub-project: Development and analysis of a SARS-CoV-2-induced mouse model for ME/CFS (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Gregor Ebert, Helmholtz Munich - Sub-project: Integrative transcriptome analyses of human and animal model samples for ME/CFS (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Emanuel Wyler, Max Delbrück Center (MDC), Berlin - Sub-project: Integrative data analyses of human and animal model samples for ME/CFS (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Volker Bruns, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS), Erlangen
View SERIMM research network in ME/CFS Research Register
Research network: SLEEP-NEURO-PATH - Contribution of sleep-related biomarkers to the pathophysiology of ME/CFS (external link)
Total funding: 1.632.362 €
- Sub-project: Multimodal characterisation of brain function and blood flow, neuronal metabolism and genetic risk structure (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Claudia Schilling, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Mannheim - Sub-project: Characterisation of brain function and vascular pathology with a focus on autonomic dysfunctions during sleep(external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Robert Goeder, University Clinic Schleswig-Holstein - Kiel - Sub-project: Mobile sleep studies in adolescents (external link)
Principal investigator: Dr Insa Wolf, Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology (IDMT), Oldenburg
View SLEEP-NEURO-PATH research network in ME/CFS Research Register
Research network: VADYS-ME - Studies on vascular dysfunction and hypoperfusion in patients with ME/CFS (external link)
Total funding: 2.610.184 €
- Sub-project: Clinical characterisation, integrative morphological and functional studies of organ perfusion and biomarkers in patients with ME/CFS (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Wolfram Doehner, Charité - University Medicine Berlin - Sub-project: Evaluation of retinal vascular analysis as a diagnostic marker in post-infectious ME/CFS (external link)
Principal investigator: Prof Christoph Schmaderer, University Hospital rechts der Isar (MRI TUM), Munich
View VADYS-ME research network in ME/CFS Research Register
Einzelprojekt: FAME - Functional autoantibodies against G-protein-coupled receptors in patients with ME/CFS (external link)
Total funding: 1.759.607 €
Principal investigator: Dr Bettina Hohberger, University Clinic Erlangen
View FAME research project in ME/CFS Research Register
How can you support the work of the ME/CFS Research Foundation?
There is still a long way to go before diagnosis, care and treatment of ME/CFS patients will one day become a medical and social standard. We at the ME/CFS Research Foundation are focussing on biomedical research, which we see as the key element in solving these problems (more on this in our research funding strategy and in our half-year report (summer 2024), which summarises our activities). To do this, we need extensive support from private donors – those affected, relatives, families, friends, associations, schools, networks, companies, initiatives, event organisers and all supporters. And if you are not able to provide direct support, you can share our story and motivate others to help. Because only together can such a feat be achieved.
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