Background and details on the funding project for ME/CFS biomarkers and disease mechanisms at Charité (Update)

We spoke to the researchers involved in our ongoing funding project Cell morphology, cell deformability and microclots in ME/CFS . In three video interviews, they provide detailed insights into this exciting project and explain the background, objectives, process and content of their ongoing research.

The project (link to our project announcement), Link zum Projekt im ME/CFS Research Registeris jointly funded by the ME/CFS Research Foundation and the Lost Voices Foundation (Lost Voices Stiftung) since January 2024 and is carried out at the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen. The project aims to investigate the occurrence of altered cell morphology and deformability as well asmicroclotsin ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome). In addition to possible causes and consequences for the disease mechanism, the suitability of diagnostic and prognostic markers will be investigated. The analyses should also form the basis for targeted therapeutic approaches.

We conducted expert interviews with the researchers (German language with English subtitles >> please click on [CC] video controls):

  • Interview 1: Prof Carmen Scheibenbogen (head of the working group conducting the research project)
  • Interview 2: Annick Fehrer (project responsible researcher and member of Prof Scheibenbogen's working group)
  • Interview 3: Dr. Martin Kräter (technology project partner, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen)

Updates:


Interview 1: Prof Carmen Scheibenbogen is Deputy Director of the Institute of Medical Immunology at Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin. As a leading expert on ME/CFS and head of the working group conducting the research projectwe talk to her about the scientific background and the aims of the project. She explains how the project is being carried out and how it is linked to other research projects at the Charité. In the article, Prof. Dr. Scheibenbogen also gives a brief outlook on the future of ME/CFS diagnostics and therapy and addresses questions that are currently still open in ME/CFS research. 

Privacy note: Playing (clicking) the video will transmit data to Vimeo. For details please check our data and privacy policy.

We asked Prof. Dr. Carmen Scheibenbogen these questions:

  1. What is known so far about cell morphology (shape) and cell deformability in ME/CFS? 
  2. How are cell morphology and cell deformability possibly related to microclots in ME/CFS? 
  3. Are these phenomena also observed in other diseases? 
  4. Question 4: How are samples collected for the project's investigations? What is special about this approach? 
  5. What is the connection between the project and other research projects, such as the NKSG (National Clinical Study Group)? 
  6. What does the project mean for research into ME/CFS, especially for the future diagnosis and treatment of the disease? 
  7. What is the current status of biomarker research on ME/CFS? What road still lies ahead of us? 

Interview 2: Annick Fehrer is a biochemist (PhD student) and a member of Prof. Dr. Carmen Scheibenbogen's research group at the Institute of Medical Immunology at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. As the researcher responsible for the project she talks about the aims, content and timing of the project. Annick Fehrer explains the concepts of cell morphology, cell deformability and microclots and discusses the measurements and methods used. She also talks about her personal motivation for this project.

Privacy note: Playing (clicking) the video will transmit data to Vimeo. For details please check our data and privacy policy.

We put these questions to Annick Fehrer:

  1. What is the project about specifically?
  2. What do the terms cell morphology, cell deformability and microclot mean?
  3. What are the research objectives of the project? And what measurements and procedures will be used to determine possible changes in the collected samples from ME/CFS patients?
  4. How can it be determined whether and how the measured changes influence the clinical picture or cause symptoms of the disease?
  5. What is the planned timeline for the project? When can we expect the first results?
  6. What motivated you to implement this project?

Interview 3, Teil 1: Dr. Martin Kräter is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the working group of Prof. Dr. Jochen Guck at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for the Science of Light in Erlangen. As a technology project partner of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, he explains the innovative technology of high-throughput flow cytometry used in this project, which was further developed in Erlangen. In the first part of the interview, he explains how this innovative technology works in the prototype used at Charité and what special features the method has compared to previous approaches. In the second part of the interview, Dr. Kräter discusses the specific new findings he expects from this project and how it could help to further develop ME/CFS diagnostics and therapy. 

Privacy note: Playing (clicking) the video will transmit data to Vimeo. For details please check our data and privacy policy.

We put these questions to Martin Kräter:

  1. What research does your working group do? What exactly is deformability cytometry and what does it contribute to medical research?
  2. How did the cooperation between the MPI and Charité come about in the context of the project? Which aspects of the project are handled by the MPI?
  3. What do we know so far about cell morphology and cell deformability in COVID-19 and Long COVID or Post-COVID syndrome?
  4. What is special/innovative about the method of deformation cytometry? How and why was this technology developed? 

Interview 3, part 2 with Dr. Martin Kräter:

Privacy note: Playing (clicking) the video will transmit data to Vimeo. For details please check our data and privacy policy.

We asked Dr Martin Kräter these questions in the second part:

5. How has the presence of microclots in the blood been investigated in post-COVID syndrome so far? What distinguishes these methods from the new procedure that is now being used in this project? 
6. What is currently known about the role of microclots in post-COVID syndrome and ME/CFS?
7. What is special about the high-throughput microscopy method used? Is this method also used to research other diseases? 
8. What new insights do you expect to gain from this project? How could this project advance ME/CFS diagnostics or therapy? 


We hope these interviews will provide an interesting look behind the scenes of ongoing ME/CFS research.


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.

We fully translate donations and other support into scientifically excellent research, networking and ultimately visible successes, i.e. better ME/CFS diagnostics and therapies. We are happy to work together with other organisations and initiatives - please contact us!

And please extend our reach and follow us on social media (external links below). THANK YOU!

We appreciate all kinds of Support!

Please register for our newsletter:

And please extend our reach and follow us:

More articles

en_GBEnglish