Energising Research into ME
Invest in ME Research (IiMER) is an independent UK charity facilitating and funding an international strategy of high-quality biomedical research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), and promoting better education and information about ME in order to raise awareness of the effects of the disease on patients and families.
Invest in ME Research is working to maintain and augment a UK/European Centre of Excellence for translational biomedical research into ME that will facilitate progress in treating this disease. We also believe that education of healthcare staff, the media, government departments, patient groups and patients is to be a priority.
Invest in ME Research is run by volunteers (patients or parents of children with ME) with no salaried staff and overheads are kept to a minimum to enable all funds raised to be used for supporting the charity's strategy.
We are a small charity but with supporters who have big hearts - and a determination to get the best possible research to be carried out to find the cause of myalgic encephalomyelitis and develop treatments.
We have links nationwide and also internationally.
Invest in ME Research is a founder member of the European ME Alliance (EMEA), a collaboration of European national charities and organisations.
The charity was also responsible for initiating the European ME Research Group (EMERG) concept, a collaboration of European researchers from major institutes.
The charity also has initiated the European ME Clinicians Council (EMECC), a network of European clinicians who will work together and share experiences of treating ME in order to establish better standards for patient care.
We do not receive, and have never received funding from government or government organisations.
The seriousness and urgency of the situation regarding ME makes it necessary for
a charity such as Invest in ME Research to provide the impetus for funding biomedical research
in order to provide hope for the development of diagnostic tests and remedial treatments.
The charity has pursued of policy of raising funds itself for biomedical research in order
to fund research at top UK institutes. More information is available here.
We believe that clinicians should standardise on usage of the most up-to-date criteria which will be agreed and developed for diagnosis by the European ME Clinicians Council and European ME Research Group, along with international collaborators. in order that there is an agreed basis (noting that evolutionary improvement would be welcomed).
The charity organises an annual research Colloquium and conference regularly attracting delegates from 20 countries.
Our conferences and colloquiums were organised from the beginning in order to provide a platform for research and a means of facilitating education about ME.
The charity funds research at the Quadram Institute and the University of East Anglia as well as influencing collaboration elsewhere, in UK, Europe and beyond.
Our aim is to fund and facilitate research in order to establish an understanding of the aetiology, pathogenesis and epidemiology of ME. We hope this will lead to the development of a universal diagnostic test(s) that can confirm the presence of ME and, subsequently, medical treatments to cure or alleviate the effects of the illness
Our efforts are focused on setting up a UK/European Centre of Excellence for ME which will provide proper examinations and diagnosis for ME patients and a coordinated strategy of biomedical research into ME in order to find treatment(s) and cure(s).
We concentrate on three key areas to concentrate our efforts on - funding for biomedical research, education and lobbying. Our aim is to find, fund and facilitate biomedical research into ME.
Use Our Website
Research
Our research strategy and the research funded by the charity
Information
Information and articles about ME
Conferences
Our annual international Colloquiums/Conferences
Fundraising
Details of our fundraising activities and how to help us
Let's Do It For ME
Patient-driven campaign to raise awareness and vital funds for research into ME
About Us
More information about the charity
News
Current and archived news from the charity
Centre of Excellence for ME
Our proposal for a UK Centre of Excellence for ME
Education
Useful educational aids for ME awareness
European Collaboration
Founder member of the European ME Alliance (EMEA) – working together across Europe
