Simon McGrath
@simonmcg.bsky.social
I occasionally try to explain and comment on ME researchh, or even contribute to it. And I advocate for more and better research.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
“Wikipedia represents something unprecedented: the only major platform on which truth emerges through transparent debate, rather than algorithmic opacity or corporate interests. Every edit is logged, every discussion archived”
Use the Wikipedia app.
🧪 #Knowledge
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Use the Wikipedia app.
🧪 #Knowledge
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
January 15, 2026 at 3:09 AM
“Wikipedia represents something unprecedented: the only major platform on which truth emerges through transparent debate, rather than algorithmic opacity or corporate interests. Every edit is logged, every discussion archived”
Use the Wikipedia app.
🧪 #Knowledge
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Use the Wikipedia app.
🧪 #Knowledge
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Simon McGrath
From Sweden:
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Hospital-Treated Infectious Mononucleosis due to EBV: National Register-Based Cohort Study
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#LongCovid #PASC
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Hospital-Treated Infectious Mononucleosis due to EBV: National Register-Based Cohort Study
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#LongCovid #PASC
January 9, 2026 at 2:09 AM
From Sweden:
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Hospital-Treated Infectious Mononucleosis due to EBV: National Register-Based Cohort Study
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#LongCovid #PASC
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Hospital-Treated Infectious Mononucleosis due to EBV: National Register-Based Cohort Study
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update
#LongCovid #PASC
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) We’ve just published our review of the most interesting ME/CFS studies of 2025.
It feels like this year, we’ve made a significant step towards understanding the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
A brief overview of the studies that caught our eye.
It feels like this year, we’ve made a significant step towards understanding the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
A brief overview of the studies that caught our eye.
December 30, 2025 at 11:02 AM
1) We’ve just published our review of the most interesting ME/CFS studies of 2025.
It feels like this year, we’ve made a significant step towards understanding the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
A brief overview of the studies that caught our eye.
It feels like this year, we’ve made a significant step towards understanding the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
A brief overview of the studies that caught our eye.
A brilliant review of a big year for ME/CFS research from this extraordinary blogging team. DecodeME results and lots more, including areas with less promising results eg antibodies & viral persistence. Plus the positive clinical trial pilot for daratumumab.
1) We’ve just published our review of the most interesting ME/CFS studies of 2025.
It feels like this year, we’ve made a significant step towards understanding the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
A brief overview of the studies that caught our eye.
It feels like this year, we’ve made a significant step towards understanding the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
A brief overview of the studies that caught our eye.
December 31, 2025 at 1:38 PM
A brilliant review of a big year for ME/CFS research from this extraordinary blogging team. DecodeME results and lots more, including areas with less promising results eg antibodies & viral persistence. Plus the positive clinical trial pilot for daratumumab.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
Previously, I posted that Na-ion batteries were likely to reach Li-ion battery energy density faster due to the prior advances and experience from Lithium work. Well, that’s appears to be the case. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.uh.edu/news-events/...
Breakthrough New Material Brings Affordable, Sustainable Future Within Grasp
Researchers have developed a new material for sodium-ion batteries, sodium vanadium phosphate, that delivers higher voltage and greater energy capacity than previous sodium-based materials. This break...
www.uh.edu
December 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Previously, I posted that Na-ion batteries were likely to reach Li-ion battery energy density faster due to the prior advances and experience from Lithium work. Well, that’s appears to be the case. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 www.uh.edu/news-events/...
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) Prof. Scheibenbogen announced that the biopharma company Sanofi is willing to support a drug trial on ME/CFS led by the Charité.
Sanofi also expressed an interest in gaining a better understanding of the disease and its mechanisms.
Sanofi also expressed an interest in gaining a better understanding of the disease and its mechanisms.
December 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
1) Prof. Scheibenbogen announced that the biopharma company Sanofi is willing to support a drug trial on ME/CFS led by the Charité.
Sanofi also expressed an interest in gaining a better understanding of the disease and its mechanisms.
Sanofi also expressed an interest in gaining a better understanding of the disease and its mechanisms.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) This factsheet for medical professionals received a lot of response and discussion.
Some people felt it was dismissive of several findings in the ME/CFS field, so I want to give some more background and context.
Some people felt it was dismissive of several findings in the ME/CFS field, so I want to give some more background and context.
1) New factsheet: ME/CFS - information for medical professionals (6 pages).
Written by Prof. Emeritus Jonathon Edwards and members of the Science for ME forum. A valuable text, useful to bookmark. A couple of quotes from key paragraphs 👇
Written by Prof. Emeritus Jonathon Edwards and members of the Science for ME forum. A valuable text, useful to bookmark. A couple of quotes from key paragraphs 👇
December 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
1) This factsheet for medical professionals received a lot of response and discussion.
Some people felt it was dismissive of several findings in the ME/CFS field, so I want to give some more background and context.
Some people felt it was dismissive of several findings in the ME/CFS field, so I want to give some more background and context.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
🇳🇴 Patients from Norway have created a petition to encourage the government to provide funding for the Daratumumab study and to strengthen future biomedical research efforts in ME CFS.
You can sign the petition here:
You can sign the petition here:
Sign the Petition
Call for Funding a New Clinical Study on Daratumumab for ME/CFS
www.change.org
December 10, 2025 at 12:14 PM
🇳🇴 Patients from Norway have created a petition to encourage the government to provide funding for the Daratumumab study and to strengthen future biomedical research efforts in ME CFS.
You can sign the petition here:
You can sign the petition here:
Reposted by Simon McGrath
9-year anniversary of reanalysis paper on recovery in £5m #PACEtrial, with data the PACE team fought so hard to keep to themselves.
Shows recovery rates in all trial arms were low, using the criteria the PIs promised in their own protocol
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#MEcfs #CFS
Shows recovery rates in all trial arms were low, using the criteria the PIs promised in their own protocol
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#MEcfs #CFS
December 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
9-year anniversary of reanalysis paper on recovery in £5m #PACEtrial, with data the PACE team fought so hard to keep to themselves.
Shows recovery rates in all trial arms were low, using the criteria the PIs promised in their own protocol
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#MEcfs #CFS
Shows recovery rates in all trial arms were low, using the criteria the PIs promised in their own protocol
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#MEcfs #CFS
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) This interesting short paper showed that the immune cells of Long Covid patients had a stronger response to viral mimics than controls. They produced more type I interferon.
December 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM
1) This interesting short paper showed that the immune cells of Long Covid patients had a stronger response to viral mimics than controls. They produced more type I interferon.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) The ME Association in the UK announced that it will invest £1.1m into the Rosetta Stone study.
The study will compare the immune profile of ME/CFS and Long Covid patients, with 250 patients in each group.
The study will compare the immune profile of ME/CFS and Long Covid patients, with 250 patients in each group.
December 11, 2025 at 8:50 AM
1) The ME Association in the UK announced that it will invest £1.1m into the Rosetta Stone study.
The study will compare the immune profile of ME/CFS and Long Covid patients, with 250 patients in each group.
The study will compare the immune profile of ME/CFS and Long Covid patients, with 250 patients in each group.
Excellent thread summarising an important review of post- infectious syndromes that goes way beyond ME/CFS and long Covid
1) Iwasaki's group has published a historical review of post-infectious syndromes.
Infections are traditionally viewed as having two outcomes: you either die or fully recover. But there are reports of post-acute sequelae after multiple infections, not just after COVID-19...
Infections are traditionally viewed as having two outcomes: you either die or fully recover. But there are reports of post-acute sequelae after multiple infections, not just after COVID-19...
December 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Excellent thread summarising an important review of post- infectious syndromes that goes way beyond ME/CFS and long Covid
Reposted by Simon McGrath
Question: of all medical conditions and diseases*, which one's presentation do you think is most similar to ME/CFS?
* Excluding overlapping syndromes such as fibromyalgia, Long Covid, POTS, MCAS, hEDS, etc., which are equally poorly understood.
* Excluding overlapping syndromes such as fibromyalgia, Long Covid, POTS, MCAS, hEDS, etc., which are equally poorly understood.
December 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Question: of all medical conditions and diseases*, which one's presentation do you think is most similar to ME/CFS?
* Excluding overlapping syndromes such as fibromyalgia, Long Covid, POTS, MCAS, hEDS, etc., which are equally poorly understood.
* Excluding overlapping syndromes such as fibromyalgia, Long Covid, POTS, MCAS, hEDS, etc., which are equally poorly understood.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) 🇳🇱 This Dutch study tested subcutaneous lidocaine in 103 Long Covid patients. The paper reports multiple improvements, but there are several caveats:
- 29% dropped out
- no placebo control group
- physical component scores showed few improvements
A brief breakdown...
- 29% dropped out
- no placebo control group
- physical component scores showed few improvements
A brief breakdown...
December 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
1) 🇳🇱 This Dutch study tested subcutaneous lidocaine in 103 Long Covid patients. The paper reports multiple improvements, but there are several caveats:
- 29% dropped out
- no placebo control group
- physical component scores showed few improvements
A brief breakdown...
- 29% dropped out
- no placebo control group
- physical component scores showed few improvements
A brief breakdown...
Reposted by Simon McGrath
It seems so silly but it’s really uplifting to see a celebrity fundraise and advocate for #MECFS
Mark Bonnar posted this 2 days ago.
He’s still fundraising for @actionforme.bsky.social as part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
I’ll link the video below
Mark Bonnar posted this 2 days ago.
He’s still fundraising for @actionforme.bsky.social as part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
I’ll link the video below
December 4, 2025 at 4:51 PM
It seems so silly but it’s really uplifting to see a celebrity fundraise and advocate for #MECFS
Mark Bonnar posted this 2 days ago.
He’s still fundraising for @actionforme.bsky.social as part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
I’ll link the video below
Mark Bonnar posted this 2 days ago.
He’s still fundraising for @actionforme.bsky.social as part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
I’ll link the video below
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) 🧬 New results from the LOCOME project. It applied the combinatorial analytics of PrecisionLife on data from DecodeME.
The 259 genes that were most associated with ME/CFS pointed to "neurological dysregulation, inflammation, cellular stress responses, and calcium signaling"
The 259 genes that were most associated with ME/CFS pointed to "neurological dysregulation, inflammation, cellular stress responses, and calcium signaling"
December 5, 2025 at 8:45 AM
1) 🧬 New results from the LOCOME project. It applied the combinatorial analytics of PrecisionLife on data from DecodeME.
The 259 genes that were most associated with ME/CFS pointed to "neurological dysregulation, inflammation, cellular stress responses, and calcium signaling"
The 259 genes that were most associated with ME/CFS pointed to "neurological dysregulation, inflammation, cellular stress responses, and calcium signaling"
Reposted by Simon McGrath
A study on 1.7 million people in Hong Kong shows superior hybrid immunity to Covid in people who got vaccinated before infection vs. people who got infected first. "Our findings are a direct rebuttal to arguments for natural immunity," the authors write. doi.org/10.1016/j.va...
Redirecting
doi.org
December 6, 2025 at 5:02 PM
A study on 1.7 million people in Hong Kong shows superior hybrid immunity to Covid in people who got vaccinated before infection vs. people who got infected first. "Our findings are a direct rebuttal to arguments for natural immunity," the authors write. doi.org/10.1016/j.va...
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) Dr. Michael Peluso will lead a big ME/CFS project called CHIME.
The infrastructure first built for HIV, then used for Long Covid in the LIINC study, will now also help with studying pre-pandemic ME/CFS
The research will focus on gut biopsies and PET-CT scans.
The infrastructure first built for HIV, then used for Long Covid in the LIINC study, will now also help with studying pre-pandemic ME/CFS
The research will focus on gut biopsies and PET-CT scans.
November 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
1) Dr. Michael Peluso will lead a big ME/CFS project called CHIME.
The infrastructure first built for HIV, then used for Long Covid in the LIINC study, will now also help with studying pre-pandemic ME/CFS
The research will focus on gut biopsies and PET-CT scans.
The infrastructure first built for HIV, then used for Long Covid in the LIINC study, will now also help with studying pre-pandemic ME/CFS
The research will focus on gut biopsies and PET-CT scans.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) 🇸🇪 A database study from Sweden reports that patients with a registered Long Covid had higher rates of depression and anxiety in 2019 (before Sars-Cov-2) than controls.
There are, however, several possible explanations for these findings.
There are, however, several possible explanations for these findings.
November 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
1) 🇸🇪 A database study from Sweden reports that patients with a registered Long Covid had higher rates of depression and anxiety in 2019 (before Sars-Cov-2) than controls.
There are, however, several possible explanations for these findings.
There are, however, several possible explanations for these findings.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) Had a look at this paper on 'The clinical relevance of Mast Cell Activation in ME/CFS'.
Unfortunately, it's almost fully based on self-reported data and questionnaires.
There are still almost no studies that looked deeper into MCAS in ME/CFS using proper biological tests.
Unfortunately, it's almost fully based on self-reported data and questionnaires.
There are still almost no studies that looked deeper into MCAS in ME/CFS using proper biological tests.
November 13, 2025 at 8:55 AM
1) Had a look at this paper on 'The clinical relevance of Mast Cell Activation in ME/CFS'.
Unfortunately, it's almost fully based on self-reported data and questionnaires.
There are still almost no studies that looked deeper into MCAS in ME/CFS using proper biological tests.
Unfortunately, it's almost fully based on self-reported data and questionnaires.
There are still almost no studies that looked deeper into MCAS in ME/CFS using proper biological tests.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
📢 Exciting news!
Today, we are proud to launch the Overlapping Illness Alliance, a coalition of charities working to improve recognition, care and support for those living with complex, overlapping conditions.
Today, we are proud to launch the Overlapping Illness Alliance, a coalition of charities working to improve recognition, care and support for those living with complex, overlapping conditions.
November 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
📢 Exciting news!
Today, we are proud to launch the Overlapping Illness Alliance, a coalition of charities working to improve recognition, care and support for those living with complex, overlapping conditions.
Today, we are proud to launch the Overlapping Illness Alliance, a coalition of charities working to improve recognition, care and support for those living with complex, overlapping conditions.
Reposted by Simon McGrath
We recently launched our Big Survey! 🎉
We’ve already had over 2000 responses - thank you to everyone who’s taken part so far 🧡
Take part, read our FAQs, and find out more here: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/big-survey/
We’ve already had over 2000 responses - thank you to everyone who’s taken part so far 🧡
Take part, read our FAQs, and find out more here: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/big-survey/
October 31, 2025 at 10:03 AM
We recently launched our Big Survey! 🎉
We’ve already had over 2000 responses - thank you to everyone who’s taken part so far 🧡
Take part, read our FAQs, and find out more here: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/big-survey/
We’ve already had over 2000 responses - thank you to everyone who’s taken part so far 🧡
Take part, read our FAQs, and find out more here: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-research-work/big-survey/
Can anyone provide social media help setting up a bluesky account & Facebook page to reach #PwME like me, for someone who doesn't understand social media. Advice would be for great, also freelancing. It's for a friend, but I'd be the contact. Ideally, running the accounts as well (would be basic).
October 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Can anyone provide social media help setting up a bluesky account & Facebook page to reach #PwME like me, for someone who doesn't understand social media. Advice would be for great, also freelancing. It's for a friend, but I'd be the contact. Ideally, running the accounts as well (would be basic).
ME Association LDN trial update: this is well advanced. 208 people recruited, 123 dosed, 50 have had their 1st MRI scans & 39 both.
The research team expect to complete recruitment very soon, with all participant activities completed by February next year.
meassociation.org.uk/2025/10/upda...
The research team expect to complete recruitment very soon, with all participant activities completed by February next year.
meassociation.org.uk/2025/10/upda...
Update: LDN clinical trial: Progress Report July-September 2025 - The ME Association
We are pleased to share the latest quarterly update on […]
meassociation.org.uk
October 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM
ME Association LDN trial update: this is well advanced. 208 people recruited, 123 dosed, 50 have had their 1st MRI scans & 39 both.
The research team expect to complete recruitment very soon, with all participant activities completed by February next year.
meassociation.org.uk/2025/10/upda...
The research team expect to complete recruitment very soon, with all participant activities completed by February next year.
meassociation.org.uk/2025/10/upda...
Reposted by Simon McGrath
1) More excellent work by the WE&ME Foundation.
They have created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.
The call is co-funded by the WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to research and science) and has a total budget of € 200.000.
They have created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.
The call is co-funded by the WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to research and science) and has a total budget of € 200.000.
October 30, 2025 at 7:42 AM
1) More excellent work by the WE&ME Foundation.
They have created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.
The call is co-funded by the WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to research and science) and has a total budget of € 200.000.
They have created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.
The call is co-funded by the WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to research and science) and has a total budget of € 200.000.