Researching ME/CFS: priority area

The Medical Research Council has treated myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as a priority area since 2003 and encourages high-quality applications on ME/CFS to any of its grant or fellowship funding opportunities. It particularly welcomes research within its remit on the priorities set by the 2022 ME/CFS Priority Setting Partnership, led by people with ME/CFS, carers and clinicians with the James Lind Alliance: the biological mechanism and management of post-exertional malaise, repurposing of approved drugs, accurate diagnostic tests, the role of the immune system and autoimmunity, stratification into subtypes, post-infection disease and links with long COVID, neurological symptoms, genetic susceptibility, drivers of severity, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxygen delivery or use. Applications should build research capacity, use multidisciplinary teams, which may include leading investigators new to the field, and involve people living with ME/CFS in developing proposals. MRC usually funds up to 80% of the full economic cost, including a wide range of team roles, and may fund international project co-leads who bring expertise not available in the UK. Applications go through the existing MRC funding opportunity that best fits the science area and career stage.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria of the specific MRC grant or fellowship opportunity they apply through, normally based on suitability to lead or work on the project and the research organisation or business where the work will take place.