The Harvard ME/CFS Collaboration
at the Harvard Affiliated Hospitals
Clinical and scientific studies to understand ME/CFS and discover new treatments
About the research center
Established in 2018, this research initiative is based at Harvard affiliated hospitals, including Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
Including the faculty of the Harvard affiliated hospitals, critical collaborations are represented from Stanford University, Cornell University, University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham, Uppsala University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
This collaborative research center is co-led by Ronald G. Tompkins, MD, ScD and Wenzhong Xiao, PhD. This research collaboration seeks to conduct clinical and basic science studies to characterize the dynamic biological changes that occur during change in symptom expression of ME/CFS patients.
Core Aims
Understand
the underlying basis of post-exertional malaise and/or post-muscular stress
Determine
the role of neuroinflammation in ME/CFS
Diagnose
possible pathologies associated with ME/CFS patients
Ascertain
the role of circulation and autonomic issues in ME/CFS
Increase
efficiency of clinical visits for ME/CFS patients to significantly reduce wait times
Develop
the infrastructure to begin treatment trials and form a center of excellence for ME/CFS
![MAIN-IMAGE-crop[1]](https://www.omf.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MAIN-IMAGE-crop1.jpg "MAIN-IMAGE-crop[1]")
Fundamental Philosophy
The Research
Co-led by Ronald G. Tompkins, MD, ScD, and Wenzhong Xiao, PhD., this research collaboration seeks to conduct clinical and basic science studies to characterize the dynamic biological changes that occur during change in symptom expression of ME/CFS patients.
![IMG_6567[1]](https://www.omf.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_65671-665x499.jpg "IMG_6567[1]")
Heart Preload Failure
Heart Preload Failure Study Aim This study aims to evaluate these different explanations of PLF in ME/CFS patients to determine which is active in many, if not all, ME/CFS patients. […]
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Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction Research
Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction Research sTUDY aIM This project aims to explore the biological changes that occur in the muscles during Post-exertional Malaise (PEM). LEAD INVESTIGATORS Ronald Tompkins, PhD Wenzhong Xiao, […]
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Brain Nuclear Inflammation
Brain Nuclear Inflammation Study Aim This project aims to better understand the role of neuroinflammation in ME/CFS. LEAD INVESTIGATORS Ronald Tompkins, PhD Wenzhong Xiao, PhD David Systrom, MD Michael VanElzakker, […]
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Computerized Adaptive Testing
Computerized Adaptive Testing TECHNOLOGY Aim Given meager research funding and the absence of a consensus on disease mechanism, there has been no definition or single set of criteria that has […]
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Multi-omics of iCPET Plasma Samples
Multi-omics of iCPET Plasma Samples sTUDY aIM This project aims to understand the origin of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). LEAD INVESTIGATORS Ronald Tompkins, PhD Wenzhong Xiao, PhD David […]
Read MoreScientific Team
To carry out these ambitious collaborations, Drs. Tompkins and Xiao together with the many Harvard Medical School faculty are establishing networks and collaborations extending to the UK and other US-based institutions. They have assembled a team of superb clinicians and scientists with expertise in a wide variety of areas directly relevant to ME/CFS research.
![Harvard_MECFS_ScientificGroup-June-2019-crop-1[1]](https://www.omf.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Harvard_MECFS_ScientificGroup-June-2019-crop-11-665x228.png "Harvard_MECFS_ScientificGroup-June-2019-crop-1[1]")
| Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Ronald Tompkins, MD, ScD |
| Wenzhong Xiao, PhD |
| Donna Felsenstein, MD |
| Jonathan Friedstat, MD |
| Daniel Irimia, MD, PhD |
| Amel Karaa, MD |
| Michael VanElzakker, PhD |
| H. Shaw Warren, MD |
| Yongming Yu, MD, PhD |
| Andrew Alexander, MBA |
| Brigham & Womens Hospital |
| David Systrom, MD |
| Anthony Komaroff, MD |
| BI Deaconess Medical Center |
| Janet Mullington, PhD |
| Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| Richard Smith, PhD |
| John Jacob, PhD |
| Wei-Jun Qian, PhD |
| University of Nottingham, UK |
| Philip Atherton, PhD |
| Paul Greenhaff, PhD |
| University of Birmingham, UK |
| Janet Lord, PhD |
| Cornell University |
| Maureen Hanson, PhD |
| Open Medicine Foundation |
| Linda Tannenbaum |
| Christopher Armstrong, PhD |
| Stanford University |
| Ronald Davis, PhD |
| Uppsala University, Sweden |
| Jonas Bergquist, MD, PhD |
