ME/CFS (Myalgic encephalomyelitis / Chronic fatigue syndrome) is a debilitating long term illness that affects up to 2 million Americans. Many sufferers are unable to leave their homes or beds due to debilitating neurological symptoms and devastating exhaustion. There is currently no cure.
In a 2015 report, the Institute of Medicine deemed quality of life for ME/CFS patients to be worse than those with HIV, multiple sclerosis, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and stroke. Yet the disease receives a fraction of the federal funding of these other serious conditions and has no FDA approved treatments.
Dr. Ron Davis is the director of the Stanford Genome Technology Center and leads a collaborative consortium of scientists to solve the mystery of ME/CFS. His research was instrumental in completing the Human Genome Project, and he was listed in The Atlantic as one of the greatest innovators currently working. His 31 year old son Whitney Dafoe is severely affected by ME/CFS. Witney is completely bedridden and is unable to speak, read, or endure speech. He receives nourishment from a saline IV and a feeding tube. He is occasionally able to communicate via pantomime indicating fully functioning awareness and cognitive abilities.
Dr Davis has assembled a research team which includes three Nobel Laureates and six National Academy of Sciences Members. In a short time he has already elucidated core aspects of the disease including impairment of crucial metabolic pathways. He has also developed the first blood test to identify those who suffer from ME/CFS, and has built a novel electronic sensor that allows him to rapidly test existing drugs for effective treatments. In addition Dr Davis has become a hero to the ME/CFS community, publically demonstrating for the disease's awareness and recording lengthy YouTube videos to answer patients' questions about his research. Unfortunately Dr Davis' work was denied NIH funding this year.
Dr Davis' research is innovative, timely, and vital, and needs to be funded NOW. Sign this petition and tell NIH director Francis Collins that ME/CFS patients can no longer wait another day. Millions of mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters have been separated from their lives for too long.