Boston Area Preliminary Research Subjects Welcome (VanElzakker)

[RivkaRivka]

BOSTON AREA PRELIMINARY RESEARCH SUBJECTS WELCOME

Michael VanElzakker of Tufts University, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital would welcome two types of Boston-area (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) people willing to be scanned with a PET MR machine.

1. Healthy controls (ideally, at this time, seeking a fit and healthy woman in her 50s)
2. ME/CFS patients (must have an MD-confirmed diagnosis of ME/CFS)

Info on PET MR scans found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography–magnetic_resonance_imaging
http://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/martinos/news/100831.php

These scans will help Dr. VanElzakker gather preliminary data that could support an NIH grant proposal. (See attached PDF for more details.)

For those who don’t know, Michael VanElzakker is a friend of the ME/CFS community. This is a paper he wrote hypothesizing that vagus nerve infection may cause ME/CFS:
http://www.pdf-archive.com/2013/06/23/vanelzakker-vnih-cfs-in-press

This study is part of the effort to test that hypothesis.

Those interested in doing the scan can contact:
vanelzak [at] nmr.mgh.harvard [dot] edu

Please note: VanElzakker is a PhD not an MD, so please don't contact him for clinical appointments or for medical advice.

 

[*GG*]

Might participate if I lived in Boston, but only $100 for 2 visits and 4 hours of my time, and dealing traffic. Kind of lousy compensation!

They probably pay for parking, or at least I hope so!

GG

 

[Sushi]

This is a paper he wrote hypothesizing that vagus nerve infection may cause ME/CFS:

@Rose49 Has Ron's team considered the theory of a vagus nerve infection as a cause? I wonder if he and Dr. VanElzakker are in touch?

 

[Kati]

Might participate if I lived in Boston, but only $100 for 2 visits and 4 hours of my time, and dealing traffic. Kind of lousy compensation!

They probably pay for parking, or at least I hope so!

GG

Hi @*GG* I bet that some patients would be ready to come from well outside the state in order to get a *free* PET scan in order to advance science. It is a golden opportunity for patients and it is also an opportunity for researchers and new collaborators to enter the field.

Perhaps you could consider fundraising for your costs, if you wish to participate (go fundme)

In my case I live on the left coast and it's way too far for my current condition to consider travel, but If I could, I would seriously consider it.

 

[Justin30]

If someone could please correct the email address so that it can be copies that would be greatly appreaciated making it easier for us.

Thank you

 

[Justin30]

This is absolutely great news I would like to see them include a SPECT Scan to highlight if their is hyperperfusion as well as to verify the findings of top and long contributing ME/CFS Clinicians:

Dr. Byron Hyde Ottawa Ontario

Dr. Jay Golstein

This would some up all 3 imaging techniques that have been shown to highlights problems in the brains of ME patients.

 

[Dolphin]

BOSTON AREA PRELIMINARY RESEARCH SUBJECTS WELCOME

Michael VanElzakker of Tufts University, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital would welcome two types of Boston-area (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) people willing to be scanned with a PET MR machine.

1. Healthy controls (ideally, at this time, seeking a fit and healthy woman in her 50s)
2. ME/CFS patients (must have an MD-confirmed diagnosis of ME/CFS)

Info on PET MR scans found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography–magnetic_resonance_imaging
http://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/martinos/news/100831.php

These scans will help Dr. VanElzakker gather preliminary data that could support an NIH grant proposal. (See attached PDF for more details.)

For those who don’t know, Michael VanElzakker is a friend of the ME/CFS community. This is a paper he wrote hypothesizing that vagus nerve infection may cause ME/CFS:
http://www.pdf-archive.com/2013/06/23/vanelzakker-vnih-cfs-in-press

This study is part of the effort to test that hypothesis.

Those interested in doing the scan can contact:
vanelzak [at] nmr.mgh.harvard [dot] edu

Please note: VanElzakker is a PhD not an MD, so please don't contact him for clinical appointments or for medical advice.

Here is what the attachment says:

Neural Mechanisms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Dual MR-PET Study


Principal Investigator: Lisa M. Shin, Ph.D.


Study:

Dr. Lisa Shin and colleagues at the Massachusetts General Hospital

(MGH) are conducting a linked research study to examine the neural mechanisms underlying Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).


Participation will take up to 4 hours of your time. It will involve filling out questionnaires, and lying in a scanner while “pictures” of your brain are taken using positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In total, this study will involve up to 2 visits (including questionnaires and one scan).

Participants will be paid up to $100 for their time.


Who is Eligible:

Adults (18-65 years old) who:

Have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by a medical doctor, Interested in helping research on CFS Not pregnant and not currently seeking to become pregnant


For more information: Please contact Michael VanElzakker, Ph.D. at vanelzak@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu


Partners Human Research Committee

APPROVAL Effective Date

11/19/2015