{"id":9537,"date":"2024-11-10T16:07:16","date_gmt":"2024-11-10T16:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/?p=9537"},"modified":"2025-11-08T16:56:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T16:56:38","slug":"bmbf-researchfunding-nov24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/bmbf-researchfunding-nov24\/","title":{"rendered":"21 new ME\/CFS research projects in Germany funded and announced by BMBF"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cGuideline for the funding of interdisciplinary research networks to investigate the pathomechanisms of myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME\/CFS)\u201d (see our summary and commentary on the BMBF funding guideline<\/span><\/a>Various research groups in Germany submitted their projects under the ministry's call for proposals. Last week, BMBF announced the funded projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"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.\"<\/em> commented Prof Carmen Scheibenbogen<\/span><\/a>, Director of the Division of Immunodeficiencies and Post-infectious Diseases and the Charit\u00e9 Fatigue Center (CFC), Berlin, on the BMBF announcement when asked by the ME\/CFS Research Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Summary of research projects<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All research projects can be accessed in the ME\/CFS Research Register<\/span><\/a> where they are linked to additional information on the investigators (to be accessed via the search function in Research Networks<\/span><\/a> or Research Projects<\/span><\/a>We are planning further reports on the individual research networks. Further details will be announced on our website, in our newsletter<\/span><\/a> and on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Overview of all research networks and projects funded under the BMBF programme on ME\/CFS disease mechanisms:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

collaborative project: BioSig-PEM - Identification of biopathological signatures of post-exertional malaise in ME\/CFS<\/span><\/a><\/strong> (external link)
Total funding: 2.489.273 \u20ac<\/p>\n\n\n\n