I think I saw somewhere that Mady Hornig is a psychiatrist.
Yes, but one who looks at physiological changes with psychiatric symptoms.
One of her early talks to the Invest in ME conferences was on PANDAS a motor tic condition in youngsters. ?2013/4.
The tics are often linked to the production of autoantibodies following a strep infection. These are antibodies to receptors in the basal ganglia in the brain.
From her subsequent talks to the conference you would not guess she is a psychiatrist. Her talks and research are much more biomedical.
No, "Mady Hornig, MD, MA, is Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Director of Translational Research in the Jerome L. and Dawn Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. A physician-scientist, she is widely recognized for her animal model and clinical research on the role of microbial, immune, and toxicologic factors in neuropsychiatric disorders..."
https://www.mailman.columbia.edu/people/our-faculty/mh2092
In my view, the problem is not the specialities of the doctors but with their false beliefs and their pervasive refusal to respect the dignity of their patients. We all recognise the good researchers and doctors who are genuinely interested in biomedical ME research.
I was recently a participant in the ME biobank project and it was so refreshing. I was never in any doubt about how much the team cared, and how determined they are to understand the pathophysiology of ME. There was no equivocation, no inappropriate language, no lack of respect, care or concern. I was treated how every patient with ME should be treated but very few are. I once phoned the lead researcher, without an appointment. She answered the phone herself and spent at least 15 minutes happily answering all my questions. At the end I tried to thank her but she wouldn't have it. "No, Thank YOU," she insisted. It was such a pleasure to be a participant in their research, and I would be amazed if they have received anything other than praise and gratitude from anyone who was involved.
Like everybody I am desperate for biomedical research to progress but I can't support MEGA unless the personnel changes – and that includes shadowy advisors.