Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of funding research into the (a) causes of and (b) potential cures for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

As indicated in the interim delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), the Government is keen to increase and improve research in this area. ME/CFS can have a devastating effect on the lives of those who suffer from it, and those close to them, and research can hold the key to improving the quality of life for people with ME/CFS.

The Government funds ME/CFS research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). Funding is available and we welcome funding applications for research into ME/CFS. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made based on the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

In areas, like ME/CFS, which are underserved by research, we work with other relevant funders to develop strategic solutions. For example, the MRC and NIHR co-funded the DecodeME project. The NIHR, Scottish Chief Scientist’s Office, and the MRC also funded the James Lind Alliance PSP for ME/CFS, facilitated by the charity Action for ME. We will outline further research actions as part of the Final Delivery Plan.