Unique cooperation: WE&ME Foundation and WWTF provide 600,000 euros for ME/CFS research.
Vienna (OTS/LCG) – Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a severe multisystem disease with a greatly reduced quality of life, which usually takes young, previously healthy people out of life. ME/CFS became more widely known to the general public due to the corona pandemic and the secondary disease post-Covid, which is becoming increasingly common after the acute infection.
“In Austria there are estimated to be more than 100,000 people suffering from so-called post-acute infectious diseases. Two of our sons are themselves affected by ME/CFS, and we know from our own experience the unsatisfactory or non-existent specific care for these patients.”
said the board member of the WE&ME Foundation, founded in 2020, Gabriele Ströck. “We kept hearing: more knowledge and research is needed.”
In fact, research in Austria has so far been inadequately equipped in this area, but there has been no targeted stimulus. The Vienna Science, Research and Technology Fund (WWTF) wants to change this together with the WE&ME Foundation with an initial funding campaign.
100,000 euros per project: 15 months to collect initial data
The call for proposals will specifically promote approaches that bring together different research areas in order to generate initial, promising data on the cause and effect relationships.
“The need of the hour is that we quickly support fundamental work on ME/CFS. We need a better understanding of this complex clinical picture; this has a tradition in Vienna. That’s why we’re now sending a strong signal together with the WE&ME Foundation.”
said WWTF President Michael Häupl.
The WE&ME Foundation’s donation to the WWTF will be doubled by the City of Vienna.
“Some great research groups at various universities and research institutions in Vienna are already working on post-acute infectious diseases. There is expertise here that can lead to new insights through creative interaction.”
so Erich HampelChair of the WWTF Board of Trustees.
First exploratory phase for researchers from biomedicine, clinical research and computer science
“We are looking for innovative research teams that work on new questions in an interdisciplinary manner, and we expect approaches that deal with the causes, diagnostics and/or the urgently needed therapy of ME/CFS, but also other severe forms of post-acute infectious diseases.”
so Michael StampferExecutive Director of the WWTF.
It will usually be clinicians from a wide range of disciplines who will work together with researchers from biomedicine and/or computer science.
“With the WWTF we have found a professional and flexible partner who has many years of experience in research funding. We are excited to see which teams will come together. And which projects the international jury will recommend”
so Gerhard StröckChairman of the WE&ME Foundation.
Then enable a second round: further financing necessary
The social and economic consequences of post-acute infectious diseases are currently difficult to estimate. It is clear that these highly complex clinical pictures are poorly researched and understood. The smaller start-up funding was deliberately chosen to see where potential exists. This is also why the WWTF, together with the WE&ME Foundation, is planning even further into the future.
“With the first call for proposals, around six smaller research projects can now be financed. If individual research projects achieve promising results, we will consider a second call for proposals in order to specifically support the best projects on a larger scale. “We want to give individual teams the perspective to go further in depth.”
said Stampfer.
Financing for a second round has not yet been fixed, but co-financing from other supporters is possible.
“We hope that the efforts that we want to make together in the future will also be supported by others. Every targeted donation to the WWTF or WE&ME Foundation advances ME/CFS research!”
said Gabriele Ströck.
Further information about the current call for proposals, which can already be viewed on wwtf.at, will be announced for applicants in an online information event on March 26, 2024, at 2 p.m., via Zoom.
About the WWTF
The WWTF is a private, non-profit research funder for Vienna. Its task is to finance top projects in scientific research; at the same time, the WWTF aims to attract excellent young researchers to Vienna. Since 2003, the WWTF has invested more than 265 million euros in Viennese science through numerous highly competitive calls. Donations to the WWTF are doubled by the City of Vienna. Further information at wwtf.at
About the WE&ME Foundation
The WE&ME Foundation (formerly TEMPI Foundation) was founded in 2020 by Gabriele and Gerhard Ströck founded and is based in Vienna, Austria. The Ströck family’s journey has been profoundly influenced by the impact of ME/CFS and has shaped the nature and purpose of the WE&ME Foundation with unwavering determination. Two of her three sons are affected by ME/CFS. The WE&ME Foundation is committed to basic research in the field of ME/CFS. She wants to bring together and bundle knowledge from research, medicine and patient experience and create broad awareness so that the necessary patient care can be achieved. More information at weandmecfs.org
Questions & Contact:
WWTF
Benjamin Missbach
Tel.: +43 676 4984644
benjamin.missbach@wwtf.at
WE&ME Foundation
Marie-Therese Burka
Tel.: +43 664 6114128
marie@weandmecfs.org
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