EMERG History
An overview of work of EMERG members and meetings
2023
Full EMERG Meeting in UK
EMERG held its annual meeting at the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge, UK.
The BRMEC12 Colloquium was chaired and moderated by EMERG members.
New members were present.
The team also met with NIH and USA researchers prior to the BRMEC13 colloquium.
2020
EMERG Steering Group meets
The EMERG steering group met in Amsterdam to plan strategy, assess status of working groups and discuss status of latest funding applications and collaborative project work.
2019
EMERG Meeting in London
EMERG was reformed and a two day meeting was held in London in November 2019.
EMERG formed a steering group and working groups were set up to look into different areas
(see governance).
The EMERG meeting overlapped with the European ME Clinicians Council (EMECC) meeting that followed.
EMERG will work with the clinicians in the European ME Clinicians Council (EMECC) and with European ME patient groups within the European ME Alliance (EMEA)
to provide a powerful combination of campaigning, raising of awareness, building new research and accumulation of data based on collaboration and sharing of experiences and knowledge,
which would allow rapid progress in developing and iplementing a strategy of high-quality research into ME.
By collaborating across Europe the best talents from the best institutions can be harnessed.
2018
Plans were made to reform EMERG and build a European infrastructure with clinicians and patients.
This strategy was created by UK charity Invest in ME Research with support from the European ME Alliance (EMEA).
2016
Second EMERG meeting held
Prior to the 6th Biomedical Research into ME Colloquium in London researchers met again to discuss status.
2015
Inaugural Meeting of EMERG.
Researchers were invited to the inaugural meeting in London to discuss forming collaborative research, joint funding bids and the creation of a European network of researchers.
Steering Committee
Remit
To develop and encourage a coordinated approach to ME/CFS research through promoting collaborations between its members and by promoting and raising the profile of ME/CFS research amongst stakeholders and patients.
Terms of Reference
- To represent European ME research
- To approve ME diagnostic criteria, based on ICC*, that is agreed by the European ME Clinicians Council (EMECC)
- To communicate and disseminate ME diagnostic criteria for research and encourage its use in recruiting both adult and/or paediatric patients for fundamental research studies and intervention and clinical trial studies
- Define the structure and agenda of the Working Groups
- Identify multi-partner funding applications and identify lead centres/PI(s)
- To develop and/or approve the scientific programme of the annual Invest in ME Research International Research Colloquium (IRC).
- http://www.investinme.org/Documents/Guidelines/Myalgic%20Encephalomyelitis%20International%20Consensus%20Primer%20-2012-11-26.pdf
Meetings: Two meetings each year one of which will be held during the annual IRC
Working Groups
Remit
To represent the broad range of scientific disciplines used to investigate ME/CFS, and to recommend and promote the adoption of best practice in the use of key, fundamental technologies and techniques These groups and the areas they cover are neither exhaustive nor exclusive. The remit and need for existing or new WG will be periodically reviewed by the Steering Committee.
Terms of Reference
- Determine what has been done (research project inventory/database) & what is needed; identifying priorities for new projects
- Identify centres and research groups for research specialisms and expertise
- Agree on standard operating procedures (SOP) and protocols that are published and disseminated via the dedicated EMERG website
- To promote collaborations and avoid redundancy and competition
- Reports to the Steering Committee
Membership
Formed in 2015 by invitation from UK charity Invest in ME Research to attend the inaugural meeting in London,
membership was renewed in 2019 at reform meeting in London.
Representation from EMERG members with expertise in the use of key discipline-relevant technologies was agreed.
Membership was established from amongst the attendees of the EMERG meeting held on
Nov. 14-15th 2019
Membership is reviewed annually but is open to researchers in Europe and subject to acceptance by the EMERG steering group, with final decision made by EMERG co-chairs.
Additional Section
Meetings: Informally as and when required (e.g. via video/telephone conferencing) and formally at the annual BRMEC Colloquium meeting.
Comments on EMERG
This is very exciting!
I believe this move will jump Europe well to the lead
in tackling the unanswered questions about ME.
The establishment of EMERG is very good news.
We and our members are glad to hear of this research
development and the desire
’to work more cooperatively and effectively’.
Congratulations on the good work -
a step forward for all ME sufferers
Congratulations and very best wishes for
European collaboration in ME
exciting developments with EMERG.
This collaboration promises to bring together many of the
best researchers in Europe and to consolidate research findings
and funding opportunities.
Certainly the critical mass this will bring to ME research in Europe
will be formidable. Congratulations
The formation of EMERG is indeed great news