IACFS/ME on Winning Chase
On behalf of the new ME (ME/CFS) Fundraising Group on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/221024774616166/ has been getting replies from ME/CFS non-profits, Faith has been sending out questionnaires to non-profits eligible for Chase.
IACFS/ME RESPONDS
What is the focus/purpose of your nonprofit--research, advocacy, education, support? Please describe briefly.
Founded in 1990, the IACFS/ME is a multidisciplinary organization of scientists, clinicians, educators, and patients dedicated to the study, care and treatment of individuals with CFS/ME and fibromyalgia. Our advocacy efforts include regular presentations on timely issues at the DHHS-sponsored CFS Advisory Committee meetings in Washington, DC. In addition, we have posted position statements on critical issues of interest to the CFS/ME community, including the PACE trial, DSM5, the hold on MLV studies, and leadership of the CDC CFS program. Our educational efforts have focused on workshops for clinicians held at our more recent international meetings (9/2011: Ottawa; 3/2009; Reno). These workshops have enrolled hundreds of professionals who want learn more about diagnosis, treatment and ongoing clinical care of patients with CFS/ME.
What projects/areas has your organization funded?
IACFS/ME sponsors biennial international conferences to stimulate research and collaboration in the study of CFS/ME and fibromyalgia. This open scientific forum includes over 500 biomedical and behavioral professionals who study these illnesses with respect to causation, persistence, and treatment.
Currently, we are funding an ongoing effort (over the past 18 months) to develop a concise, user-friendly, and evidence-based CFS/ME Primer for physicians and other health practitioners that is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. Fred Friedberg chairs the primer committee of 12 respected CFS/ME professionals.
In the last two years we have regularly published a quarterly peer review journal (Bulletin of the IACFS/ME) and a Newsletter (3x a year) which contain recent scientific studies as well as abstracts, opinion pieces, announcements, and other information of interest to the CFS/ME professional and patient communities.
About how many members does your group have? (if applicable)
Currently, 400.
How would you plan to use prize money?
The prize money would be used to help support these specific goals: (1) funding medical students and young investigators to attend our next international conference who may be considering a career in the area of CFS/ME; and (2) Design, production and dissemination of hard copies of the new Physicians Primer for CFS/ME to primary care doctors and other health practitioners.