Ongoing Research

The establishment of endowed funds would catalyze our current efforts in order to sustain the momentum our research is currently experiencing, and ensure the next generation can continue this important work.

Our long-term goal is to secure a substantial endowment to sustain and build on our efforts in perpetuity. Gifts of $100,000 or more can be designated as endowed funds. All endowed gifts may be named per the donors’ wishes.

 

Click HERE to make your donation now.

Current Research Studies

We are currently recruiting for participants to enroll in 2 research studies. The purpose of one study is to do a brain MRI to look for anatomical changes that may underly the central clinical features of ​ME/CFS. The second study is to use PET and MRI scans to look for ​inflammation in the brain and body of moderate-to-severe ME/CFS patients.

Ideal participants include

  1. Between ages 18-65 years old

  2. Able to travel to Palo Alto, CA for 2 separate visits

  3. Participation would include blood draws, questionnaires, brain and body PET/MR without contrast

  4. Both studies will be compensated for 

Currently Recruiting

Validating early MRI-DTI results as a biomarker for ME/CFS

Findings of this initial research, which showed substantial differences in the brains of patients with

ME/CFS, were published in the October 29, 2014 Radiology journal, which is summarized in this Stanford

Stanford Collaborators: Michael Zeineh, MD, PhD; Jose R. Maldonado, MD; Trevor Hastie, PhD; Roland Bammer, PhD; Greg Zaharchuk, MD, PhD

EVALUATION OF THE NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM IN ME/CFS

Evaluate the endocrine system and look for the presence of antibodies in 60 ME/CFS cases and 60 controls by performing basic and dynamic endocrine testing. Study how the Hypothalmic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis functions in ME/CFS patients

Stanford Collaborators: Laurence Katznelson, MD; Rohit Gupta

Second University of Naples Collaborators: Annamaria De Bellis, PhDn Mackey, MSE, MD, PhD; Susan Weber, PhD

ME/CFS Brain and Tissue Bank

Accepting brain/tissue donation post mortem locally and nationally to explore role of mitochondria in ME/CFS.

Contact the Research Coordinator for more information.

Stanford Collaborators: Hannes Vogel, MD; Edward Plowey, MD; Michael Zeineh, MD, PhD; Michelle James, PhD

Data Analysis in Progress

CHOIR for ME/CFS Questionnaires

Use CHOIR (Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry) as our data collection tool for the research questionnaires we administer to our patients in clinic

Stanford Collaborators: Sean Mackey, MSE, MD, PhD; Susan Weber, PhD

Cognitive Impairment in ME/CFS Patients

Conducted two studies utilizing techniques in EEG to yield objective measurements for evaluating cognitive impairment in ME/CFS patients. Two publication manuscripts pending publication

Stanford collaborator: Jose Maldonado, MD

DePaul University collaborators: Marcie Zinn, PhD; Mark Zinn, PhD candidate.

Cardiovascular Health in ME/CFS Patients

Findings of this initial research, which showed substantial differences in the brains of patients with ME/CFS, were published in the October 29, 2014 Radiology journal, which is summarized in this Stanford

Stanford Collaborators: Michael Zeineh, MD, PhD; Jose R. Maldonado, MD; Trevor Hastie, PhD; Roland Bammer, PhD; Greg Zaharchuk, MD, PhD

Published

Subgrouping CFS patients by Genetic and Immune Profiling

Analysis of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types in ME/CFS patients, which regulates the human immune system. Publication pending of this initial research

Stanford Collaborators: Tyson Holmes, PhD; Donn Garvet, MS