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What kind of
life will you live

when there is finally a cure?

Together, we can move ME/CFS & Long COVID research further, faster.

Life altering illnesses

With ME/CFS* or Long COVID, your old life fades away. You lose contact with family and friends. You have to explain your illness again and again. Even your doctor doesn’t understand what is happening to you. 

You are not alone. A staggering 85 million individuals face multisystem diseases like ME/CFS and Long COVID.

*ME/CFS is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Woman looking at her reflection in a window.

Complex diseases require
open collaboration

ME/CFS and Long COVID disrupt many body systems. Traditional research looks at one system at a time. That approach doesn’t work.

That’s where Open Medicine Foundation (OMF) comes in. As a nonprofit, we’ve raised more than $50 million to fund open collaborative research. OMF brings world-renowned scientists together to study, diagnose, treat, and cure complex diseases.

It’s a bold dream.  It’s the path that will get you back to a fulfilling life.   

Researchers standing in a laboratory

How do we get to an answer faster?

Understand
disease
mechanisms

Once we understand how ME/CFS and Long COVID develop, researchers can pinpoint targets for intervention.

Define
diagnostic
criteria

ME/CFS and Long COVID are difficult conditions to diagnose. We need specific biomarkers and definitive tests. 

Find
effective
treatments

Currently, there are very few treatments and they only target symptoms. OMF launched its first treatment trial in 2023.

Broaden
access to
quality care

OMF provides medical education to help healthcare providers understand the challenges of multisystem disease.

We take a multisystem approach

Human body
Neuroendocrine

6 Neuroendocrine Studies
"Neuroendocrine" refers to the interactions between the nervous system which controls
body functions through nerve impulses, and
the endocrine system which regulates body
functions through hormones.

Immune

3 Immune Studies
The immune system defends the body against infections and diseases, helping to maintain overall health.

Cardiovascular

3 Cardiovascular Studies
The cardiovascular system, comprising the heart, blood vessels, and blood, is responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body.

Metabolism

10 Metabolism Studies
Multiomics is a scientific approach that can include genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics to get a comprehensive understanding of biological systems. Abnormalities in carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism have been observed.

Genetics

1 Genetics Study
Genetics may contribute to an individual's susceptibility to multisystem disease, including variations in immune system genes, genes involved in energy metabolism, and genes related to neurotransmitter function.

Multiomics

12 Multi Omics Studies
Multiomics combines various omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.

Diagnostics

11 Diagnostic Studies
Diagnostic studies will help identify specific biomarkers towards differentiating between ME/CFS and illnesses with similar clinical presentations.,

 

Treatment

2 Treatment Studies
Treatment studies evaluate the efficacy and safety of potential interventions. Focusing on repurposed drugs could quickly provide evidence-based guidelines for healthcare providers.

 

Systems Biology

4 Systems Biology Studies
Systems biology is an interdisciplinary approach that can help identify key pathways, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets.

Pathogens

4 Pathogen Studies
Infections can trigger or worsen a wide range of symptoms.

1

Studies funded by OMF

since 2012

By funding studies that examine multiple systems, researchers can see how ME/CFS and Long COVID develop. This approach will lead to more effective treatments and improved quality of life.

Click on each system to read a description.

The power of open collaborative research

OMF supported centers

Stanford University

ME/CFS Collaborative
Research Center

at Stanford University

Ronald W. Davis, PhD
Director

Innovative, collaborative, multi-disciplinary research
View the research
Harvard University

The Ronald G. Tompkins
Harvard ME/CFS Collaboration

at Harvard Affiliated Hospitals

Wenzhong Xiao, PhD
and
David Systrom, MD
Co-Directors

Clinical and scientific mechanistic studies towards discovering new treatments
View the research
Uppsala University

ME/CFS Collaborative
Research Center

at Uppsala, Sweden

Jonas Bergquist, MD, PhD
Director

Research for biomarkers
in body and brain
View the research
Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne
ME/CFS Collaboration

at Melbourne, Australia

Chris Armstrong, PhD
Director

Precision research program
View the research
CHU Sainte-Justine/Université de Montréal

ME/CFS Collaborative
Research Center

at the CHU Sainte-Justine
Université de Montréal

Alain Moreau, PhD
Director

Clinical and scientific intervention studies
View the research
Glowing sphere and mathematical equations

Computational
Research Center
for Complex Diseases

Wenzhong Xiao, PhD
Director

From data to disease mechanism and treatments
View the research
Medical professional pointing to the word Education

OMF Supported Medical Education Resource Center (MERC)

at Bateman Horne Center

Lucinda Bateman, MD
Medical Education Director

More about MERC
StudyME logo

Accelerate research
Be a participant

Let's show the world
how many people want a cure
OMF’s StudyME, powered by StudyPages, is a recruitment tool to connect individuals interested in participating in research studies with the researchers conducting them.
Sign up now

You shouldn’t have to struggle alone

More than 200 researchers in your corner

We get it. We, too, are patients, parents, or partners of someone with multisystem disease. We are passionate about finding a cure.

At OMF, research is a team sport. We take a systems biology approach at our seven global Collaborative Research Centers. We have a world-renowned Scientific Advisory Board overseeing the process. Instead of waiting on publications, we share results in real-time. 

OMF believes multisystem disease should not be a life sentence but a solvable puzzle.

Our Collaborators

Your life is too important to live in the shadows.

What will happen if research remains focused on one system at a time?

How will your life shrink? How many graduations, birthday parties, or everyday activities will you miss? What will happen with your career?

Something has to change. 

Woman sadly standing at window

Why donate to OMF?

7

Global Collaborative Centers

OMF partners with leading research institutions worldwide.

200

Collaborators

OMF brings together brilliant scientists from around the globe.

$50

million

Raised to fund research

Open collaborative research will unlock the door to treatments and cures. With your help, we can get to life-changing answers faster.

How It Works

OMF’s research process

1

It all starts with you

With your support, OMF funds groundbreaking research and medical education. We bring hope to those who need it most.

2

Researchers openly collaborate

We bring together top researchers in multiple specialties —  scientists dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and ultimately curing ME/CFS and Long COVID. They share data, collaborate, and build on each other’s work. 

3

Light bulb moment

Even small breakthroughs can make a big difference when scientists share their ideas.

4

Communication is key

Unlike traditional research, we don’t wait for publication before we communicate our findings. We regularly post research updates on our website and through email. Make sure you subscribe to our latest news.

Go ahead.

Imagine your life when there is a cure.

Download the

ME/CFS and Long COVID fact sheet

Pensive man leaning on a table. What is ME/CFS Fact sheet

Perfect for printing and sharing with your doctor or personal community.

Open Medicine Foundation (OMF) is a US based global nonprofit, with an affiliate organization in Canada (OMF Canada) and a foreign branch in Australia (OMF Australia). 

Open Medicine Foundation : leading open collaborative research in ME/CFS & Long COVID

Receive the latest news

Collaborative research moves fast. 

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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®

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