European ME CLinicians Council (EMECC)

Enhancing knowledge and capability of myalEgic encephalomyelitis

The formation of EMECC

The European ME Clinicians Council (EMECC) was established to address the urgent need for a collaborative network of clinicians across Europe who specialise in diagnosing and treating myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The group aimed to foster mutual support, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among clinicians and researchers in the field.

Key areas of focus included:

  • Uniting clinicians to review and advance the current state of knowledge in ME
  • Presenting and discussing the latest research and clinical initiatives
  • Encouraging collaboration to enhance patient care and research outcomes

The concept of a European clinicians' network was initiated by the UK charity Invest in ME Research, following the successful establishment of a similar group in the USA by Dr Lucinda Bateman and Mary Dimmock.

While the pandemic slowed progress and disrupted clinician resources, EMECC's objectives have largely been absorbed into the European ME Research Group (EMERG), with continued support from the European ME Alliance (EMEA).
The initiative remains a valuable consideration for future collaborative efforts in ME research and clinical practice and involves development of a European standard protocol for treatment of ME.

EMECC Meetings

Bi-annual in person meetings of the European ME Clinicians Council were held in 2019 in London.

The statement from EMECC following the inaugural meeting is here

Statement

In 2019 members of the European ME Clinicians Council also presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress in Norway in June 2019 in a meeting entitled "Listening to the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) patients’ voice".

The EMECC group meetings were interrupted by the Covid pandemicwhich pandemic caused a radical change in everything, not least among clinicians. Following return to more normal activities the clinical work and meetings were absorbed into EMERG.

European ME Clinicians Council Workshops

EMECC Meetings

Inaugural Meeting London

London

EMECC-1 EMECC Meeting 1 - London 2019 The first CPD-accredited European ME Clinicians Council workshop took place over three days in London in on February 22–24, 2019.

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Second Meeting

London

EMECC-2 EMECC Meeting 2 - London November 2019
The second European ME Clinicians Council workshop will take place over three days in London during November 2019. This meeting built on the progress made to develop new plans for the group including how to develop standards, research and enlargement of the group.

Third Meeting

Amsterdam

EMECC-3 EMECC Meeting 3 - Amsterdam February 2020
The third meeting took place in Amsterdam in February 2020. This meeting occurred just before tha covid pandemic locked everything down.

Future Meetings

Future meetings were planned for 2020 and a meeting of the steering group for EMERG/EMECC was held in Amsterdam in February 2020.
The subsequent pause in all activities caused by the pandemic affected plans.
Later meetings were incorporated into EMERG meetings.