A campaign has been launched by patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) to raise awareness and vital funds for a centre of excellence, the first of its kind in Europe.

The centre aims to translate biomedical research findings into appropriate treatments for patients with ME as rapidly as possible. The research proposed will be of the most advanced possible with a focus on immunology and virology, building upon the research database and enabling new areas of cooperation with other biomedical research facilities.

The centre would be based at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, with access to the excellent facilities of the research park on campus.

Patients seen at the new centre will be assessed according to the correct and up-to-date diagnostic criteria, which will provide the benefit of a positive diagnosis, rather than simply a diagnosis of exclusion of other causes, as well as the advantage of using well-defined patient cohorts for the research itself.

The Let’s do it for ME campaign has been launched by Invest in ME.