OMF Milestones

Groundbreaking
ME / CFS Research

Your support brings us
closer to the answers.

We have raised over $50 million from private donors, and facilitated and funded the establishment of six prestigious ME / CFS Collaborative Research Centers around the globe.

Thanks to your support, OMF has been able to fund and facilitate groundbreaking research around the world. Your support can help us find effective treatments and a cure. Answers are closer than ever before! Here are some highlights of what we’ve accomplished together over the years!

2022

2021

2020

2019

Second Annual May Momentum Campaign

The Second Annual May Momentum campaign raises over $130,000 and includes video messages from patients projected onscreen in Times Square on May 12, International ME / CFS Awareness Day.

Hope and Heart Unite for ME / CFS Campaign

Hope and Heart Unite for ME / CFS Poetry & Art Slam campaign to build awareness and raise funds elicits votes for poems and art from participants in 17 countries. The project, co-led with Lev Leytzan, produces an original song, “Keeping the Hope.”

Celebrity Amy Carlson becomes OMF Ambassador to raise awareness.

Television actress and long-time ME / CFS advocate Amy Carlson joins OMF Ambassadors and promotes OMF on her social media.

International Author Karin Alvtegen becomes OMF Ambassador to raise awareness.

Karin’s first video in support of OMF draws 35,000+ reach on Facebook.

Clinician Summit

Linda Tannenbaum attends ME / CFS Clinicians Summit organized by Mary Dimmock and Dr. Lucinda Bateman at the Bateman Horne Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Attending First NIH Summit on ME / CFS

Members of the OMF scientific research team participated in this inaugural summit of the NIH on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME / CFS).

Invest in ME Research

Dr. Davis speaks at the Biomedical Research into ME Colloquium and the Invest in ME Research International ME Conference in London, which several members of OMF’s Scientific Advisory Board and Chris Armstrong also attend. Linda hosts an exhibit table to greet conference participants.

End ME / CFS Worldwide Tour Continues

Linda conducts the third End ME / CFS Worldwide Tour and speaks with patients, clinicians, researchers, and supporters in London, Germany, and Denmark.

New Science Liaison

Christopher Armstrong, PhD joins the OMF team as Science Liaison.

In the Media Mainstream

OMF’s Linda Tannenbaum, Ron Davis, Ron Tompkins and Chris Armstrong are each interviewed by Llewllyn King for ME / CFS Alert.

Chris Armstrong is interviewed on the podcast, Uninvisible.

Scientific Advisory Board Member Alan Moreau, together with OMFCA volunteer Marie-Josee Menard are interviewed on the national program, CBC Toronto News.

Linda Tannenbaum and Llewellyn King were interviewed by Joe Madison for his award-winning Sirius radio program.

CNN news article by Ryan Prior features Dr. Ron Davis and son Whitney.

Multiple mainstream media cover Dr. Ron Davis’s publication about the nanoneedle diagnostic test.

OMF Funded Research Publications

Paper by OMF funded researcher Dr. Robert Phair on metabolic trap hypothesis published in Diagnostics.

Report on nanoneedle diagnostic test published by Ronald W. Davis, PhD, Rahim Esfandyarpour, PhD, et al, in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and receives wide media coverage.

OMF Expands Collaborative Research Center Network to Sweden

New OMF funded ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center launched at Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, under the direction of Jonas Bergquist, MD, PhD.

OMF Sponsors Inaugural Harvard Collaborative Research Center Science Meeting and Symposium

New OMF funded ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center at Harvard hosts Finding Clarity, a one-day science meeting and the inaugural symposium on ME / CFS.

OMF Sponsors Third Annual Community Symposium & Working Group Meeting

The topic is the Molecular Basis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME / CFS) at Stanford University.

Harvard-affiliated doctors meet

to explore the current state of care for ME / CFS patients and explore new collaborations among specialists.

With your support, OMF raises over $24 million since founded in 2012.

2018

OMF Reaches People in More than 100 Countries

Communications are translated by volunteers in multiple languages.

Deal with IT

Linda speaks about ME / CFS at “Deal with It, a Women’s Conference,” funded by the Motion Picture Television Fund.

Partners with Several Women’s Coalitions

OMF partners with the Women’s Health Equity Coalition, hosted by Hadassah, and the 2018 Forward Feminism Conference, hosted by the National Organization for Women (NOW).

Funds More Research Scientists

Funds hiring of bioinformaticians and computer scientists at Stanford and Harvard Universities.

Expands ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center at Stanford University

OMF funds expansion of research projects at the ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center at Stanford University.

And Another $4 Million!

Pineapple Fund donates an additional $4 million after social media communications expressing need and impact are shared with donor.

$1 Million Bitcoin Donation

OMF receives $1 million from anonymous bitcoin investor, the Pineapple Fund, in response to overwhelming support from patients and community on Reddit, a social media site.

OMF Sponsors Second Annual Community Symposium & Working Group Meeting

OMF sponsors a 3-day Working Group Meeting and Community Symposium on the Molecular Basis of ME / CFS at Stanford University. More than 50 researchers from around the world come together to openly share their research to understand, diagnose, and cure ME / CFS. The Community Symposium draws 300 attendees in person as well as 4,800 who Livestream the event.

With your support, OMF raises over $18.3 million since founded in August 2012.

2017

Wins 2017 Top-Rated Nonprofit Award

Great Nonprofits honors OMF for positive donor reviews.

Unrest with Film Director, Jennifer Brea

OMF attends premier at the Sundance Film Festival and participates on several panels after showings of the film in Northern and Southern California.

Increases Global Reach

OMF translates weekly and general communications about its research into multiple languages connecting with people in over 100 countries.

Collaborative Research Center Stanford

OMF establishes and funds the ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center at Stanford University under the direction of Dr. Ron Davis.

With your support, OMF raises over $9.18 million since founded in August 2012.

2016

Builds Awareness

Partners with ProHealth and Precision Medicine World Conference for increased awareness and support.

Gains international exposure at IACFS/ME Conference

Dr. Ron Davis, Dr. David Bell, Linda Tannenbaum, and Marilyn Simon-Gersuk attend the IACFS/ME Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Davis gives a presentation. OMF has a well-attended exhibit table to meet the participating international community.

OMF adds Director of Communication & Development

Former ALS Association Development & Community Services Vice President, Marilyn Simon-Gersuk joins OMF.

With your support, OMF raises over $6.15 million since founded in August 2012.

2015

Takes Fundraising Up a Notch

Hires fundraising consulting company to take fundraising to the next level.

Society of Women’s Health Research Fundraising Gala

Linda, Ron Davis, and Ronald G. Tompkins, MD, attend the Society of Women’s Health Research Fundraising Gala, where Dr. Davis tells NIH Director Francis Collins in person about his severely ill son and the urgent need for increased funding for ME / CFS research.

Dr. Whittemore Becomes ME / CFS Champion

Follow-up meeting with Dr. Whittemore leads to Dr. Whittemore committing to be a “ME / CFS Champion at NIH.” Dr. Whittemore proceeds to be instrumental in escalating NIH and the Trans-NIH ME / CFS Working Group to focus on ME / CFS.

With your support, OMF raises over $4.18 million since founded in August 2012.

2014

Search for a Biomarker

OMF raises money for the first major research project recommended by the SAB — the Severely Ill Patient Big Data Study (SIPS) — to examine the most severely ill patients for the strongest signals in search for a biomarker.

First Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) Meeting

The first SAB meeting is held in October 2014 at Linda’s home in Los Angeles.

With your support, OMF raises over $2 million since founded in August 2012.

2013

Establishes a Worldwide Perspective

Visits researchers and patients in Sweden to begin international personal outreach.

Gets the Word Out About ME / CFS

Linda is the speaker at the pre-conference dinner for the Invest in ME Conference held in London.

Funds First Research Projects

Funds initial research projects. Fundraisers via NIDA and OMF support initial studies.

Linda Approaches Potential Donors

Begins approaching potential donors and develops a database to raise funds for early research.

OMF Gets Social

Volunteers help set up social media for OMF and begin to build outreach and awareness.

Builds Community

Linda and volunteer team build community international database and begin connecting and communicating with individuals and organizations all over the world about ME / CFS, fibromyalgia, chronic Lyme, and autism.

With your support, OMF raises over $1.63 million since founded in August 2012.

2012

Linda Establishes OMF Foundation Board

Small ‘family and friends’ fundraisers via Neuro-Immune Disease Alliance (NIDA); NIDA wins $20,000 through a contest generated on social media.

Linda Tannenbaum Helps Organize MERIT

The MERIT (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Research, Immunology and Treatment) meeting is held in New York City with 20 researchers and clinician experts (half from the U.S. and half international) attend the event.

With your support, OMF raises over $123,000 since founded in August 2012.

PRIVACY | COOKIE | CONSENT | MEDICAL & OTHER DISCLAIMERS

Current Research Studies

The LIFT Clinical Trial

Collaborative Center at Stanford

The Ronald G. Tompkins Harvard ME/CFS Collaboration

Collaborative Center at Uppsala

Collaborative Center at Montréal

Melbourne ME/CFS Collaboration

Computational Research Centerfor Complex Diseases

Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Resources for Patients and Parents

U.S. Government Resources

Medical Education

Frequently Asked Questions

Videos

Disease Descriptions

What Is ME / CFS?

What Is Long Covid?

Preprint: A Network Medicine Approach to Investigating ME/CFS Pathogenesis in Severely Ill Patients: A Pilot Study

New Study from the ME/CFS Collaborative Center at Uppsala: Altered Metabolic Pathways in ME/CFS

What WeStand For

Mission and Vision

The End ME / CFS Project

OMF Milestones

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

More About OMF

People

OMF Ambassadors

GroundbreakingME / CFS Research

Your support brings uscloser to the answers.

We have raised over $50 million from private donors, and facilitated and funded the establishment of six prestigious ME / CFS Collaborative Research Centers around the globe.

OMF Milestones

2023

We’ve raised over $50 million since 2012

Exclusive Interview with Ron Davis & Janet Dafoe!

OMF’s First Clinical Trial

StudyME Reaches More Than 5,700 Participants!

MERC reaches thousands of medical providers

New publication funded by OMF explores post-viral fatigue & brain inflammation in HSE and ME/CFS

Transformative Gift Fuels our Research Program!

New publication from Dr. David Systrom & Colleagues!

OMF & Patient-Led Research Collaborative: Pioneering Progress for ME/CFS and Long COVID

New Publication from Alain Moreau, PhD, & Colleagues!

2022

Big News! Announcing our 7th Center in Partnership with Bateman Horne Center

A Decade of Hope: OMF Celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary!

OMF Named Top-Rated Nonprofit in 2022!

Share Your Story for a Chance to be Featured

Announcing The Ronald G. Tompkins Harvard ME/CFS Collaboration at the Harvard Affiliated Hospitals

2021

New OMF funded paper: Heat stroke & ME/CFS

OMF funds new treatment-focused project

Three new groundbreaking research projects!

New Study Alert! Sleep Disturbances in ME/CFS

New study underway at the Montreal Collaborative Center!

Announcing our sixth Research Center!

View For ME

Long Covid to ME/CFS

$4.5M raised in 2020: Your Donations at Work!

Insights from Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing by David Systrom, MD, Harvard Collaboration

Football Player Jack Emmett Becomes OMF Ambassador!

Mechanisms That Prevent Recovery in Prolonged ICU Patients Also Underlie ME/CFS by Jonas Bergquist, MD, PhD, Uppsala Collaboration

2020

OMF Ambassador Jacqueline Ko Releases First Single to Benefit ME/CFS Research!

$1 Million Received to Study COVID-19 to ME/CFS

Profile of circulating microRNAs in myalgic encephalomyelitis and their relation to symptom severity, and disease pathophysiology by Alain Moreau, PhD, Montreal Collaboration

Meet Artist & ME/CFS Advocate Christina Baltais | #TripleGivingTuesday

OMF launches OMF Australia

OMF Scientist Receives Grant for ME/CFS research from the NHMRC in Australia

OMF Awarded Score of 100 on Charity Navigator!

Grant Awarded to Nitrogen Hypothesis Study

New OMF Funded Research Paper

Interagency ME / CFS Working Group Meeting 8/11/2020

OMF Announces New “Brain Fog” Study

In the News: OMF Funded Study on COVID-19

OMF Announces New Treatment Trial

Breaking News – OMF Funded Study: COVID-19 and ME / CFS

Actress Jennie Jacques Becomes OMF’s Newest Ambassador

OMF Adds a Fourth ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center

OMF adds Ronald Tompkins, MD, ScD as ‘Chief Medical Officer’

Computational Research Center
for Complex Diseases

What Is ME / CFS?

What We
Stand For

Groundbreaking
ME / CFS Research

Your support brings us
closer to the answers.

We have raised over $50 million from private donors, and facilitated and funded the establishment of six prestigious ME / CFS Collaborative Research Centers around the globe.

Interagency ME / CFS Working Group Meeting 8/11/2020

Breaking News – OMF Funded Study: COVID-19 and ME / CFS

OMF Adds a Fourth ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center

Hope and Heart Unite for ME / CFS Campaign

Attending First NIH Summit on ME / CFS

End ME / CFS Worldwide Tour Continues

ME / CFS Advocate of the Year

Second End ME / CFS Worldwide Tour

Launches ME / CFS Clinical Collaborative Research Center at Harvard

Expands ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center at Stanford University

First Community Symposium on the Molecular Basis of ME / CFS & Working Group Meeting

End ME / CFS Worldwide Tour