Future Research Directions
Some questions asked about specific treatments, both in regards to whether OMF has looked into that treatment or if we will going forward.
Regarding what we are currently investigating, our website provides information about our past and current studies. Beyond that, we are always evaluating existing and new scientific evidence and listening to input from the community to inform future projects that we will launch as resources become available. For more information about clinical management, please consider exploring the Clinical Care Guide, produced by the OMF-supported Medical Education Resource Center.
Cardiovascular Function
Are there any published studies addressing cardiovascular function in ME/CFS?
OMF’s Ronald G. Tompkins Harvard ME/CFS Collaboration, led by Dr. David Systrom, has published a paper on this topic: Insights from Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The paper identifies two potential contributing factors to exertional intolerance in ME/CFS: impaired venous return of blood to the heart, and impaired peripheral oxygen extraction.
Two other publications in this area are:
Using UK Biobank Data
The UK Biobank ME/CFS cases are self-reported rather than clinically diagnosed Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC) patients, so how will an algorithm trained on a group that might contain non-ME/CFS patients learn to identify true ME/CFS cases?
While the cases of ME/CFS in the UK Biobank are self-reported, using these data has a few advantages, including larger sample sizes and a faster timeline because the data have already been collected. Therefore, an initial diagnostic algorithm developed on these data—like the one developed by OMF’s Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration—is an important initial step. The algorithm does need to go through validation steps, though, with independent cohorts that have doctor-confirmed diagnoses. These validation steps will help refine the algorithm and account for potential misdiagnoses in the original cohort.
BioQuest
Will the project look at sex differences? How will subgroups be determined? What’s the timeline for identifying possible biomarkers?
OMF’s large-scale biomarker project (BioQuest) aims to identify a biochemical signature for ME/CFS—including its subtypes—that can be conveniently evaluated through a blood test and distinguish the disease from others with similar clinical presentations.
Subgroups will be identified using advanced bioinformatics and artificial intelligence techniques based on the extensive dataset we will have, including proteomics, metabolomics, cytokines, clinical picture, and more. The analysis will also investigate differences based on sex, geographic location, age, and other important variables.
Once testing of the samples begins, we anticipate data collection will take approximately six months. The analysis will likely take another six to twelve months after all data has been collected.
Explaining Jargon
Can you please explain some of the medical jargon you use on your YouTube interviews with researchers, such as precision and computational medicine and what makes these types of medicine different?
Precision (or personalized) medicine is an approach to preventing or treating a disease that is tailored to an individual’s circumstances (e.g., symptoms, genes, environment). It can differ from traditional methods of treating something because it accounts for variation in the disease.
Computational medicine uses methods like machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analysis to understand diseases and identify potential methods of treatment in silico (entirely on a computer or software). OMF’s computation team utilizes this approach in the network medicine project. Computational medicine does not involve treating patients in real time, so it is primarily used for producing hypotheses that need to be tested in human studies.
Researcher Inquiries
How can researchers get involved with OMF? Is there a formal grant application system?
At this point, OMF’s policy is to fund research through our Collaborative Research Centers and Scientific Advisory Board. Through this approach, we have a network of over 200 researchers working on OMF-supported projects.
Donate your appreciated stock directly to OMF and you can receive an immediate income-tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities on the date of transfer (even if you originally paid much less for them).