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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME / CFS) Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), Fibromyalgia Leading Research. Delivering Hope.Open Medicine Foundation® Canada
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Update: MRI and PET Imaging of ME/CFS, POTS, and Long COVID

From the Desk of Dr. Danielle Meadows,
Vice President of Research Programs & Operations

Professional headshot of Danielle Meadows smiling at the camera.

In the fall of 2024, I introduced to you all an overview of the research process, where studies typically move through four main stages: Study Design, IRB/Ethics Review; Recruitment, Data Collection; Data Analysis; and Publication. 

Given that context, I then shared a series of interviews with OMF’s Directors, talking about one of their projects and where it stands within that research process. Today, I want to give an update on one of those projects, as it has since transitioned to a new stage of the research process. 

The Heart of the Matter

  • Dr. Armstrong and his team at OMF’s Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration are investigating the link between neuroinflammation, cerebral blood flow, and dysregulated hormones in ME/CFS, POTS, and Long COVID.
  • The project recently received ethics approval and has started enrolling participants, therefore moving it into the “Recruitment, Data Collection” stage of the research process.

Update: MRI and PET Imaging of ME/CFS, POTS, and Long COVID

In my interview with Dr. Chris Armstrong, Director of OMF’s Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration, we talked about his project using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to investigate whether issues with cerebral blood flow and neuroinflammation are impacting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the brain and contributing to the dysregulation of hormones. If you missed the interview or want to watch it again, you can view it here: Linking Brain Blood Flow, Neuroinflammation, Metabolism, and Hormones in ME/CFS, POTS, and Long COVID.

At the time of our interview, the project was in the later phases of ethics review. Excitingly, the team has since received ethics approval and begun enrolling participants. This means it has transitioned to the “Recruitment, Data Collection” stage of the research process.

The image is a flowchart with four stages of the research process: "Study Design, IRB/Ethics Review”,”Recruitment, Data Collection”, “Data Analysis” and “Publication." The second stage, "Recruitment, Data Collection," is highlighted with a teal background, indicating emphasis.

Given the limited availability of the PET tracer used in the study—which has never been used before in research on ME/CFS—the team anticipates that data collection will take at least one year. 

To hear more about the study from two of the researchers on Dr. Armstrong’s team, check out this new interview about the project they’ve named Malopus.

Watch Now

If you would like to be considered for participating in research opportunities like this, please consider joining our OMF StudyME Registry.

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