In the recent article produced for IiME by Dr Jo Cambridge [1] the status of the current work being undertaken by the team was described.
The aim of this initial study at UCL is to establish baseline parameters in anticipation of monitoring the numbers, sub-types and functions of B-cells (a sub-population of white blood cells) during the anticipated clinical trial of rituximab which IiME will be funding.
After discussions at the first Invest in ME (Research) Advisory Board meeting last month we discussed with Dr Cambridge the need to extend the work being performed on B-cells with regard to ME research.
Invest in ME are therefore committing ourselves to fund a new PhD studentship at UCL beginning next year.
This exciting news will secure the longer term research into ME and augment the proposed rituximab clinical trial.
We see this as a critical development to which we need to commit at an early stage in order to avoid losing momentum in the future. We have been impressed by Dr Cambridge's pro-active approach and the UCL team's can-do attitude which resonates with the charity's ethos.
From our Advisory Board meeting we have heard of promising news.
IiME supporters and the impressive Let's Do It For ME collaboration have shown what the future could hold for ME patients and their families and firmly underpins the charity's total commitment to biomedical research into ME.
It also reinforces our plans for a Centre of Excellence proposal.
Invest in ME is now forging a strategy of biomedical research which has been lacking in the UK.
Together with wonderful supporters and our European ME Alliance partners we are forcing change to occur in the establishment.
We would like to thank our supporters for their efforts, their support, their encouragement and their loyalty
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ukrituximabtrial.org
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