It was a bit underwhelming, but what striked me most is that when they posted a grant application for ME/cfs they received no application. It shows how neglected and stigmatized the field is not only in health care, but at the researcher level. It feels like solitary confinement
1) First problem is now we need to train the granters (I forgot what they are called) but if they reject all applications we gain nothing with money. This is urgent and maybe as a community we set up an education or presentation package for them on what we know so far of CFS and how patients are doing.
2) To apply for a grant as a new researcher, you need to apply for grant (time to fill out and process the applications) w hypothesis (money to do a small pilot needed), so we need to grant money to start up applications so they can even get to the money.
To apply for a grant as a new researcher, you need to apply for grant (time to fill out and process the applications) w hypothesis (money to do a small pilot needed), so we need to grant money to start up applications so they can even get to the money.
We need to ask the NIH people how to address that.
I had a friend also that couldn't apply because she didn't have money to get even to the hypothesis. this is a Big issue we need to address. Have a plan.
It reminds me of the woman at last year's CFSAC that said "the applications, they weren't that good" so simply, some will try, 97% gets rejected, so they simply try where they have more chances of acceptance (Zika, Ebola, HIV, Cancer)