The aim of the project is to better understand the causes and mechanisms of this debilitating disease and to develop new approaches for diagnosis and treatment. The project is headed by Prof. Wolfram Döhner, MD, scientist at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and the German Heart Centre at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, partner of the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK).
ME/CFS: vascular problems as a key mechanism?
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) leads to a severe reduction in physical and mental performance. Those affected often suffer from extreme exhaustion, muscle weakness and concentration problems. The disease occurs after infectious diseases, and a significant increase in frequency has been observed, particularly after the COVID pandemic. Other viral diseases such as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is responsible for glandular fever, as well as influenza or other respiratory infections are also associated with the development of ME/CFS.
This joint project, VADYS-ME, is investigating whether and how disturbances in the regulation of the blood vessels and blood supply affect the metabolism and thus the function of tissues and organs. This in turn can contribute to typical symptoms such as muscular weakness, generalised fatigue and concentration disorders.
Innovative approaches: Imaging, biomarkers and data analysis
Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging are used to analyse how well the brain, heart and muscles are supplied with blood. The metabolism of the skeletal muscles is also analysed and blood samples from ME/CFS patients are examined specifically for certain characteristics (‘biomarkers’) of the regulation of blood flow.
The VADYS-ME research project is being carried out by Charité in cooperation with the Technical University of Munich (project leader Prof Dr Schmaderer) and is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with 2.6 million euros. It brings together the expertise of five research teams from Charité, including the Berlin Institute of Health (BCRT), the German Heart Centre Berlin, the Department of Neurology at Charité and the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), as well as the Technical University of Munich. Patient organisations (Lost Voices Foundation and the ME/CFS Research Foundation) have also been involved in the project from the outset in order to incorporate the perspective of patients and sufferers into the clinical research work.
Professor Wolfram Döhner, MD, who is leading the project, explains: ‘With VADYS-ME, we want to better understand the mechanisms of ME/CFS and look for new methods to make a reliable and rapid diagnosis and also open up opportunities for new treatments to ultimately improve patients’ quality of life.’
More information about the project:
https://www.gesundheitsforschung-bmbf.de/de/klinische-charakterisierung-integrative-morphologische-und-funktionelle-untersuchungen-von-18109.php