Precision research program to identify the unique biology of individuals and the unifying biological pathways of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Established in 2020, the Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration is directed by Christopher W. Armstrong, PhD.
The Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration seeks to characterize the unifying biological pathways of ME/CFS that relate to the shared disease experience between patients while also understanding each patients unique biology that create variation in disease experience and severity.
Chris Armstrong, PhD, is most well known for his research using metabolomics to observe biochemical alterations in ME/CFS patients. He began his work in this field at the University of Melbourne, beginning a PhD project to apply metabolomics to study Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and published his first ME/CFS metabolomics study on blood and urine in 2015.
Since then Chris has set up collaborative efforts to apply metabolomics to immunological experiments on ME/CFS, observing how metabolism may relate to immune cell function. He has also focused on longitudinal research in ME/CFS while looking to extend metabolic capabilities across the field of ME/CFS to help collate different patient groups.
This study seeks to understand the biological mechanisms driving the symptomatology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) using metabolomic and lipidomic high-throughput analysis and high-frequency blood sampling over a 6.5 to 7.5 hour period conducted at two separate sites (Melbourne and Uppsala).
Robert Phair, PhD gives a video update on the Itaconate Shunt Hypothesis for ME/CFS, a study in collaboration with Christopher W. Armstrong, Ron Davis, PhD, and Ron’s team at Stanford.
An Update from Chris Armstrong, Director, Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration The Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration is the fifth and newest OMF funded collaborative research center. After making
This study seeks to understand the biological mechanisms driving the symptomatology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) using metabolomic and lipidomic high-throughput analysis and high-frequency blood sampling over a 6.5 to 7.5 hour period conducted at two separate sites (Melbourne and Uppsala).
To investigate the metabolite signatures of ME/CFS patient stool, urine and blood samples and the impact that co-morbidities (IBS and Fibromyalgia) have on these signatures.
This project aims to look at metabolic traps in central carbon metabolism that lead to observed altered energy production pathways in ME/CFS.
This project will develop a software tool to rapidly look for metabolism anomalies in an individual which might be explained by their genes. It will also look for potentially damaging genes in individuals and it will attempt to group ME/CFS patients based on their genetic and metabolic profiles.
The study aims to establish a condensed personalized research protocol that can be used to characterize ME/CFS in individual patients as it pertains to all their unique biological aspects, interacting with a complex chronic disease.
This project aims to test the nitrogen hypothesis, which is that damaging, nitrogen-containing by-products of energy metabolism accumulate more readily in the cells of ME/CFS patients.
Ocular Motor Study Study AIM The aim of this project is to fully characterise eye movement changes in ME/CFS on two consecutive days, identifying an
This proposal seeks to understand pathological mechanisms of pediatric ME/CFS (13 to 18 years old).
Deep Proteome and Metabolome Profiling Study AIM Collaborate with OMF CRCs in Uppsala and Melbourne to establish a global perspective. Decode the molecular mechanisms underlying
The study aims to establish an analytical workflow for outlier analysis in ME/CFS and develop a software program to rapidly identify these potential anomalies.
This study’s goal is to broadly evaluate B cell subsets, metabolism, viability, receptors, and antibodies in people with ME/CFS.
To carry out these ambitious projects, Dr. Armstrong is establishing networks and collaborations extending to USA, UK, Sweden, and other Australian institutions.
University of Melbourne, Australia
Paul Gooley, PhD
Natalie Thomas, PhD
Kathy Huang
Amber Jaa-Kwee
Xiaoyun Wang, PhD
Neil McGregor, PhD
David Ascher, PhD
Elisha Josev, PhD
Sarah Knight, PhD
Adam Scheinberg, MD
David Stroud, PhD
Rob Williams
Leigh Johnston, PhD
Stanford University, USA
Ronald Davis, PhD
Michael Snyder, PhD
Robert Phair, PhD
Laurel Crosby, PhD
Ryan Kellogg, PhD
Linda Lan, PhD
Julie Wilhelmy
Jaime Seltzer
Arshdeep Chauhan
Uppsala University, Sweden
Jonas Bergquist, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
David Systrom, MD
Wenzhong Xiao, PhD
University of Montreal, Canada
Alain Moreau, PhD
Open Medicine Foundation
Linda Tannenbaum
UC San Diego, USA
Robert Naviaux, MD, PhD
University of Alabama Birmingham, USA
Jarred Younger, PhD
University College London, UK
Jo Cambridge, PhD
La Trobe University, Australia
Sarah Annesley, PhD
Paul Fisher, PhD
Daniel Missailidis
Australian National University, Australia
Brett Lidbury, PhD
Alice Richardson, PhD
Monash University, Australia
Joanne Fielding, PhD
Meaghan Clough, PhD
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OMF Australia is a Public Ancillary Fund, established for the purpose of promoting and funding research into chronic complex diseases, and supports the Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration.
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