Research Council expects to fund ME and CFS projects in 2020

Featured ~ ME news Australia ~ 4 Comments

by Sasha Nimmo Outcomes on the remaining recommendations from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) ME and CFS advisory committee are expected to be announced in mid-2019. Prof Anne Kelso CEO NHMRC, is deciding whether to release the report ahead of the announcements. "The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee Report to the NHMRC Chief … Continue reading Research Council expects to fund ME and CFS projects in 2020

Disability agency consults on ME and CFS

March 30, 2019 ~ ME news Australia ~ 1 Comment

by Sasha Nimmo Senior staff from Australia's National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) met with Emerge Australia and ME Australia to see how they can better support people who have ME and CFS. Encouragingly, this seems to be the start of a more broad consultation approach. At the meeting, we discussed access to the scheme, how permanent … Continue reading Disability agency consults on ME and CFS

Australian government announces $3 million for medical research

March 28, 2019March 28, 2019 ~ ME news Australia ~ 2 Comments

by Sasha Nimmo Australia's Health Minister, Greg Hunt, announced $3 million in medical research funding. In 2018-19 the government will spend $6 billion on Australia’s health and medical research sector. The Minister said funding will 'help researchers develop a better understanding of the cause and condition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)'. This comes after … Continue reading Australian government announces $3 million for medical research

NHMRC draft ME and CFS report asks for feedback

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 ~ ME news Australia ~ Leave a comment

By Sasha Nimmo Released on the Friday before Christmas, the Australia's National Health and Medical Research Advisory Commission's draft report on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is open for comment. People and organisations are encouraged to respond to the draft report by noon AEDT, Monday 18 February via the online public consultation portal. The … Continue reading NHMRC draft ME and CFS report asks for feedback

Australia’s Health Minister listening to people with ME

Prof Paul Fisher, Sasha Nimmo, Dr Heidi Nicholl

December 1, 2018December 2, 2018 ~ ME news Australia ~ 8 Comments

by Sasha Nimmo Australia’s Health Minister, Greg Hunt, listened to people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), families, scientists and organisations. Minister Hunt had a second meeting with ME Australia, along with Prof Paul Fisher, head of microbiology at La Trobe University and Dr Heidi Nicholl, Emerge Australia on Thursday. ME Australia and Dr Chris Armstrong first … Continue reading Australia’s Health Minister listening to people with ME

Difference between Australian chronic fatigue syndrome guidelines and ME

November 30, 2018December 31, 2018 ~ ME news Australia ~ 8 Comments

By Sasha Nimmo Australians are having their concerns dismissed by GPs, receiving harmful medical advice, refused insurance claims, refused access to support services, denied access to the Disability Support Pension and the National Disability Insurance scheme. In tens of thousands of cases, they are misdiagnosed or wait decades for a diagnosis. Read these excerpts from … Continue reading Difference between Australian chronic fatigue syndrome guidelines and ME

Australian government ME and chronic fatigue syndrome committee lacks transparency

September 26, 2018October 4, 2018 ~ ME news Australia ~ 5 Comments

The governement's ME and CFS advisory committee are one meeting away from releasing their report for feedback. The NHMRC is now listing resources for clinicians which include CBT, exercise and antidepressants.

Last days to have your say: Medical Research Future Fund

August 29, 2018August 29, 2018 ~ ME news Australia ~ Leave a comment

by Sasha Nimmo The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is holding a national consultation to ask Australians about what the priorities of the fund should be from 2018-2020. The first set of MRFF Priorities expire on 8 November 2018. There is an opportunity for everyone to make a submission using the form on the website. The consultation … Continue reading Last days to have your say: Medical Research Future Fund

Mistakes of the past: ‘The Pathogenesis of Melancholia’ and other wasted money.

Fax showing the names of studies funded by the NHMRC. The studies are named in the article

May 6, 2018July 31, 2018 ~ ME news Australia ~ 4 Comments

By Sasha Nimmo Australia's government is seeking advice from an advisory committee on current research, gaps in research and whether the 2002 clinical guidelines for doctors should be revised. The last time the government began to look at chronic fatigue syndrome was 25 years ago. In 1993 the then Minister for Health, Graham Richardson, established … Continue reading Mistakes of the past: ‘The Pathogenesis of Melancholia’ and other wasted money.

Making the most of the NHMRC advisory committee

chairs at a boardroom-style table with blank notepads

April 24, 2018April 28, 2018 ~ ME news Australia ~ 5 Comments

By Sasha Nimmo Australian research is underfunded and the government's clinical guidelines are outdated so the ME and CFS advisory committee is welcomed. It provides an important opportunity to call on the government to fund biomedical research and to give Australian doctors desperately needed clinical guidance. The advice from this committee will determine if diagnostic … Continue reading Making the most of the NHMRC advisory committee