How will Wales support biomedical research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) and improve outcomes for patients and families?
I recognise that research is a fundamental component of high-quality healthcare. It plays a vital role in improving treatments and outcomes for patients and their families, while generating the evidence needed to inform and drive improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for a wide range of conditions, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
Through Health and Care Research Wales, Welsh Government offers a range of open and competitive research funding opportunities to which researchers with an interest in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) are eligible to apply. In addition, Welsh Government invests in a wide range of UK-level National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funding programmes, enabling researchers based in Wales to participate as both lead applicants and co-investigators. I would therefore encourage researchers with an interest in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) to explore and apply for these funding opportunities.
For patient-facing studies, the Welsh Government funds an extensive Wales-wide infrastructure – including dedicated healthcare professionals – to support patients and enable efficient study delivery in the NHS.
Funding to support earlier stage and underpinning biomedical research is offered by UKRI primarily through the Medical Research Council.
Health research is a global endeavour, and we look to learn from research findings to improve the way we do things, wherever that research takes place.
My officials and I continue to work with stakeholders and partners, including people with lived experience of infection-associated chronic illness and the organisations that represent them. These discussions are helping to shape the future development of services and have included the latest evidence from recent research findings.