Researching ME/CFS: priority area

This funding opportunity from the Medical Research Council (MRC) supports research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Building the MRC's portfolio of ME/CFS research has been a high priority since 2003, and this priority notice seeks to encourage high-quality funding applications to any of MRC's grant or fellowship funding opportunities. The program particularly welcomes applications within MRC remit that address one or more of the research areas identified by the ME/CFS Priority Setting Partnership, which was led by people with ME/CFS, their carers, and clinicians. Priority areas include investigating the biological mechanisms of post-exertional malaise, pathways to drug repurposing, development of accurate diagnostic tools, the role of the immune system, stratification of ME/CFS, post-infection disease evaluation, neurological symptoms, genetic links, drivers of disease severity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxygenation dysfunction. Applications should consider increasing capacity in ME/CFS research, building multidisciplinary teams, and involving persons living with ME/CFS in developing research proposals. MRC will usually fund up to 80% of the project's full economic cost. Applications submitted under the ME/CFS priority area receive prioritization for funding against other applications attaining the same median ranking score. Applicants can apply through any of MRC's existing funding schemes, including grants and fellowships across various career stages. The opportunity has been open since May 2003 with no closing date, operating on a rolling basis depending on the specific grant or fellowship scheme chosen.