{"id":15719,"date":"2026-01-21T15:10:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/?p=15719"},"modified":"2026-01-22T06:10:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T06:10:33","slug":"2025winter-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/2025winter-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Half-year report winter 2025: what have we achieved so far?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>2025 was a good year for ME\/CFS and Long COVID research overall. Our efforts to increase biomedical research, too, were successful. Thanks to the excellent work of our team and steadily growing donations from our supporters, we will again be able to make a significant impact in 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the second half of 2025, we expanded our activities and continued to implement already initiated projects (see our reports from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/2025summer-report\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">summer 2025<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/2024winter-report\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">winer 2025<\/span><\/a>). This winter 2025 report is structured around our five areas of intervention:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Funding research<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Networking of researchers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Making research progress transparent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facts and resources for education and information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fundraising and awareness (and use of donations)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Funding research&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Projects listed on our website&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/research\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in the research area<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;were complemented in the second half of 2025 by the following 2 additional grants at <strong>Charit\u00e9 \u2013 Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin<\/strong>&nbsp;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Junior research fellowship&nbsp;<\/strong>for a \"Comparative Study of Healthy Control Subjects and Patients with ME\/CFS Using Questionnaires, Handgrip Strength Measurement, Cognitive Testing, and Laboratory Markers\" (<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/researchfunding-charite-stipendium\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">see announcement<\/span><\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biomarker study&nbsp;<\/strong>on brain changes in ME\/CFS and their evaluation as potential imaging markers (<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/researchfunding-charite-biomarker2\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">see announcement<\/span><\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two further research projects<\/strong>, the details of which we are only permitted to disclose once the researchers have published their findings.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Results of these projects will be published after data are officially available.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since its founding, the Foundation has&nbsp;<strong>(co-)funded a total of 11 research projects<\/strong>&nbsp;(including two early fundings in the run-up to the publicly funded research network&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cfc.charite.de\/klinische_studien\/nksg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">National Clinical Study Group (NKSG)<\/span><\/a>, see our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/2year-review\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">first report from December 2023<\/span><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What is next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Our funding focus so far rested on maintaining and expanding ME\/CFS research networks established in Germany since 2022. <a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/fundingstrategy2026\/\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Our research funding strategy<\/span><\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;was revised in the fall and adapted to current developments, particularly the \"National Decade Against Post-Infectious Diseases\" announced by the German Federal Government at the end of 2025 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmftr.bund.de\/DE\/Forschung\/Gesundheit\/MedizinischeForschung\/Postinfekti\u00f6seErkrankungen\/postinfekti\u00f6seerkrankungen_node.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a>).  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/fundingstrategy\/\"><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"335\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251125_MERF_Foerderstrategie_EN-scaled.png\" class=\"wp-image-15021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251125_MERF_Foerderstrategie_EN-scaled.png 2560w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251125_MERF_Foerderstrategie_EN-300x98.png 300w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251125_MERF_Foerderstrategie_EN-1024x335.png 1024w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251125_MERF_Foerderstrategie_EN-768x251.png 768w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251125_MERF_Foerderstrategie_EN-1536x502.png 1536w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251125_MERF_Foerderstrategie_EN-2048x670.png 2048w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251125_MERF_Foerderstrategie_EN-18x6.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Our&nbsp;<strong>Research Funding Programme 2026<\/strong>, which we developed with our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/about-us\/#SAB\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Scientific Advisory Board<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;, in February via a call for proposals for new projects, which will include all the details on the application process and selection criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Networking of researchers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/news-conference2026\/\">International ME\/CFS Conference 2026<\/a><\/span><\/strong>: This annual, hybrid conference, organised in cooperation with the Charit\u00e9 Fatigue Center, will take place in Berlin next on 7-8 May 2026, and will be streamed live online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Registration for online participation will open in the beginning of February. The English-language part of the Conference will focus on the latest findings from ongoing ME\/CFS research as well as post-COVID syndrome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/news-conference2026\/\"><img alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"329\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/conference_visual_2026_kleiner-1024x329.webp\" class=\"wp-image-15676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/conference_visual_2026_kleiner-1024x329.webp 1024w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/conference_visual_2026_kleiner-300x96.webp 300w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/conference_visual_2026_kleiner-768x246.webp 768w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/conference_visual_2026_kleiner-18x6.webp 18w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/conference_visual_2026_kleiner.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A German-language symposium for the general public will be held on the afternoon of the second day of the Conference. As with the <a href=\"https:\/\/events.mecfs-research.org\/en\/events\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">International ME\/CFS Conference &amp; ME\/CFS Symposium 2025<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;, summaries, videos, and presentations will be made available online after the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mrr.mecfs-research.org\/en\/mrr\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ME\/CFS Research Register<\/span><\/strong><\/a>: This systematic overview of the ME\/CFS research landscape provides information on research projects, working groups, publications, events, and other details. In November 2025, the register was expanded to include&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/news-mrr-norway-iceland\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Norway and Iceland<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;and now covers a total of 6 countries. The register is continuously updated and will be gradually expanded to include more countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Research transparency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In September 2024, we published the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/researchupdate\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ME\/CFS research update for Germany and Austria<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;, and in November, we provided an <a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/bmbf-researchfunding-nov24\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">overview of the 21 BMBF-funded basic research projects<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;. Later, we added supplementary overviews of ME\/CFS research in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/mrr-update-dec24\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Switzerland and the Netherlands<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;as well as in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/news-mrr-norway-iceland\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Norway and Iceland<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;. For the ME\/CFS Research Register, we are planning to improve and expand the display of data on research, in the style of our previous research updates (planned for the second half of 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Facts and resources for education and information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Prevalence and cost of Long COVID and ME\/CFS in Germany:<\/strong>&nbsp;data from our joint study published in May 2025 (<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/costreport\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">link<\/span><\/a>) has been widely used by the press, policy makers, and in public discourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In a background interview, our project partners from Risklayer elaborated on the study\u2019s details and their motivation for this project (<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/news-costreport-interview\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">link<\/span><\/a>). To keep the study data up-to-date as an important basis for ongoing discussions, we are currently working on an update that will include prevalence and cost data as of December 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/news-costreport-interview\/\"><img alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail-newsletter_EN.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-13559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail-newsletter_EN.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail-newsletter_EN-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail-newsletter_EN-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail-newsletter_EN-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail-newsletter_EN-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail-newsletter_EN-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail-newsletter_EN-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Internationale Deklaration zur Unterst\u00fctzung der Forschung und Arzneimittelentwicklung f\u00fcr ME\/CFS und Long COVID:<\/strong>Following the International ME\/CFS Conference 2025, leading international experts signed a joint declaration (<a href=\"https:\/\/declaration.mecfs-research.org\/en\/declaration\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">link<\/span><\/a>). They call for a global and collaborative effort to significantly expand biomedical research and accelerate the development of curative treatment options for ME\/CFS and Long COVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Political Engagement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result of our activities and the study mentioned above, we were invited to various meetings with the German Federal Government in the second half of 2025:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2022\tOctober 2025: Meeting with Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken, together with Prof. Dr. Carmen Scheibenbogen (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DP35mhSDFhQ\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">link to Instagram<\/span><\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>November 2025: Kick-off event \u201cAlliance for Post-Infectious Diseases: Long COVID and ME\/CFS,\u201d organised by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), with Federal Ministers Dorothee B\u00e4r and Nina Warken, as well as many representatives from government and the healthcare system (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmg-longcovid.de\/diskurs\/allianz-postinfektioese-erkrankungen-long-covid-und-me-cfs\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">external link<\/span><\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>17 December 2025: Public discussion in the Research Committee on the \u201cNational Decade Against Post-Infectious Diseases.\u201d, where we provided our expert opinion and demands for the strategic design of the \u201cNational Decade\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/news-nationaledekade-stellungnahme\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">link<\/span><\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Together with several patient organisations (including the German Association for ME\/CFS, Fatigatio, and Long COVID Germany), our goal is to constructively support the concrete implementation of the \"National Decade\". Our joint aim is to ensure that biomarker and diagnostic research advances, therapies are developed, and the care of ME\/CFS patients is put front and centre for it to sustainably improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this context, we are currently working on a new data project \u2013 an&nbsp;<strong>overview of all public funding for Long COVID and ME\/CFS research<\/strong>&nbsp;at the federal and state levels. This new report will provide transparency on funded projects and supply information on the use of the funds under the \"National Decade.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Fundraising and awareness (and use of donations)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Donations provide the financial basis for our work. In 2025, we successfully expanded our fundraising and awareness efforts to the following extend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Growing number of&nbsp;<strong>fundraising events<\/strong>&nbsp;by those affected, their families, associations, schools, initiatives, and companies for various occasions;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional&nbsp;<strong>awareness campaigns in professional football<\/strong>, in cooperation with the Empty Stands initiative, e.g. at HSV in November 2025 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DR7mjWVE6Bk\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">link to Instagram<\/span><\/a>);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First items for sale in our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/fundraising-webshop\/\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">fundraising shop<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, where we provide materials for fundraising campaigns at production costs; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/spendenabo\/\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\"\u20ac5 for 5 things\" fundraiser campaign<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, through which we have been offering&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/fundraising-spendenabo\/\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">gift donations<\/span><\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;(not just for Christmas) and donation subscriptions since December 2025, successfully implementing the idea that \"when we all work together, we can achieve a lot.\"&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Foundation's financial income stems from&nbsp;<strong>direct donations<\/strong>&nbsp;to the ME\/CFS Research Foundation&nbsp;<strong>and indirect donations <\/strong>(e.g. from other foundations, companies, large donors). The latter is made available to specific, pre-selected research projects in close consultation with the donors.&nbsp;<strong>Administrative costs<\/strong>&nbsp;arising for the Foundation are borne by the founder. Our donation volume developed markedly in 2025. At more than \u20ac1.17 million, direct donations more than doubled compared to the previous year. This growth is based on a steadily increasing number of donors. Thank you!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik1_EN_v2.png\" class=\"wp-image-15901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik1_EN_v2.png 1678w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik1_EN_v2-300x133.png 300w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik1_EN_v2-1024x453.png 1024w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik1_EN_v2-768x340.png 768w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik1_EN_v2-1536x679.png 1536w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik1_EN_v2-18x8.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Indirect donations, at \u20ac0.62 mln, were roughly on par with the previous year. Due to extending our activities, administrative costs (not covered by donations) rose to almost \u20ac0.18 mln in the last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since its founding, the ME\/CFS Research Foundation has&nbsp;<strong>raised over \u20ac4 mln in total<\/strong>&nbsp;. Of this,&nbsp;<strong>\u20ac1.8 mln (44.7%) have already been invested in research<\/strong>. As of December 2025,&nbsp;<strong>\u20ac1.93 mln are available for new research<\/strong>&nbsp;. A total of almost \u20ac0.3 mln were spent on administration (and refinanced by the founder). The following graphic provides an overview of all the Foundation's income, expenses, and available funding to date:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik2_EN_v2.png\" class=\"wp-image-15910\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik2_EN_v2.png 2246w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik2_EN_v2-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik2_EN_v2-1024x564.png 1024w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik2_EN_v2-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik2_EN_v2-1536x845.png 1536w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik2_EN_v2-2048x1127.png 2048w, https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HalbjahresberichtWinter25_Grafik2_EN_v2-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As described in section 1, our&nbsp;<strong>Research Funding Programme 2026<\/strong>&nbsp;will be launched in February with a call for proposals to allocate currently available funding to new research projects, to be selected with the support of our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/about-us\/#SAB\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">scientific advisory board<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>J\u00f6rg Heydecke, founder of the ME\/CFS Research Foundation, comments:&nbsp;<em>\u201cThe development of projects and donations shows how much patients and their relatives can achieve together to advance ME\/CFS and Long COVID research. Our goal remains to motivate even more people to get involved in fundraising for more research. The \u201cNational Decade\u201d is a unique opportunity. While not all details are clear yet, significant progress is likely to be made in the coming years, particularly in the development of biomarkers, diagnostics, and targeted treatment options. We will make our private funding available where it can be used most effectively and is most urgently needed to catalyse these efforts.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We would like to thank all our supporters!&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ME\/CFS and Long COVID research in Germany, Europe, and worldwide continues to progress positively, thanks to the contributions of many researchers, patients and their families, organisations\/initiatives, and policy makers. Our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/costreport\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">report on the prevalence and cost of Long COVID and ME\/CFS<\/span><\/a>&nbsp;underscores the urgent need for more research, both socially and economically. With the \"National Decade,\" Germany finally decided to take a leading role in biomedical research into these diseases. It is now crucial to make the most of this opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We thank everyone who has contributed to these positive developments, whether through us or in other ways. And we continue to encourage you to support our work for more biomedical research through donations to improve diagnostics, care, and ultimately, treatment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can you support the work of the ME\/CFS Research Foundation?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go before diagnosis, care and treatment of ME\/CFS patients will one day become an established medical and social standard. We at the ME\/CFS Research Foundation are focussing on biomedical research, which we see as a key element in solving these problems (more on this in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/fundingstrategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our research funding strategy<\/a><\/span> and in the recent <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/reporting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">half year report<\/a><\/span>, which summarises our activities). To achieve this, we rely on broad support from private donors \u2013 those affected, relatives, families, friends, associations, schools, networks, companies, initiatives, event organisers and all supporters. If you are not able to provide direct support, you can share our stories and motivate others to help. Because only together can we achieve. this goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We fully translate donations and other support into scientifically excellent research, networking and ultimately visible successes, i.e. improved ME\/CFS diagnostics and therapies. We are happy to work together with other organisations and initiatives - please contact us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We appreciate all kinds of<strong> support:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/spenden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Donate to ME\/CFS research<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Please subscribe to our <strong>newsletter:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a 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class=\"wp-block-social-link-label\">TikTok<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Thank you for your support! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2025 war ein gutes Jahr \u2013 f\u00fcr die ME\/CFS- und Long COVID-Forschung. Auch unser Engagement f\u00fcr mehr biomedizinische Forschung war erfolgreich. Dank der guten Arbeit unseres Teams und dem stark wachsenden Spendenvolumen unserer F\u00f6rder*innen werden wir auch 2026 erneut viele Impulse setzen k\u00f6nnen. Im zweiten Halbjahr 2025 haben wir unsere Aktivit\u00e4ten weiter ausgebaut und einige [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15899,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter","category-activityreport"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15719"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15959,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15719\/revisions\/15959"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}