Written question asked by John MacDougall (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 June 2008. It was answered by Ian Pearson (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 June 2008 on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will increase expenditure on research into the biomedical causes and consequences of myalgic encephalopathy.

Answer: [holding answer 23 June 2008]: The Medical Research Council is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a strategic priority area for the MRC and the Council is continuing to promote research in this area. The MRC does not have set budgets for specific illnesses and research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available, The MRC welcomes applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.The MRC currently supports a number of studies in CFS/ME, as follows:"Professor K. Bhui, Queen Mary and Westfield College—chronic fatigue and ethnicity (£162,000).""Dr. C. Clark, Centre for Psychiatry, Barts and The London School of Medicine—general and specific risk markers and ""preventive factors for chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome (funding approved in November 2007, £367,000).""Professor A. J. Weardon, University of Manchester—randomised controlled trial of nurse led self-help treatment for primary care patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (£743,000).""Professor P. D. White et al, Queen Mary and Westfieid College—The PACE Trial: a RCT of CBT, graded exercise, adaptive pacing and usual medical care for the chronic fatigue syndrome (£2.07 million)."

Secondary information