Rainbow at shoreline

The Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association, a 501(c)3 founded in 1985, exists to meet the needs of patients with ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) or FM (Fibromyalgia), their families and loved ones. The Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association works to educate health-care providers and the general public regarding these severely-disabling physical illnesses. We also support patients and their families and advocate for more effective treatment and research.

Article Index

The Massachusetts CFIDS/ME & FM Association held its Fall 2011 educational forum, co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Health, on November 5, 2011 at the UMass-Hinton State Laboratory Institute Auditorium in Jamaica Plain, MA. Review of research abstracts from the September 2011 International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome /Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFS/ME) Conference held in Ottawa, Canada was presented in two segments: Dr. Anthony Komaroff’s review of the conference highlights (on audio, with accompanying slides), while Dr. Kenneth Friedman and Dr. Alan Gurwitt spoke about other studies, news and developments (their presentation will be released as a separate article, due to the length and depth of content).

As always, Dr. Komaroff’s summary of the IACFS/ME meeting highlights was most informative and articulate, and the Massachusetts CFIDS/ME & FM Association is deeply appreciative of Dr. Komaroff’s continued interest and support of our educational programs in giving us permission to replay this material.

The following article reviews studies selected by Dr. Komaroff which he felt had represented some of the more intriguing and provocative areas of research, as listed:

Epidemiology
Virology
Immunology
Exercise challenge studies
Studies of the brain
Gene structure and expression
CFS multi-center research initiatives

Notice about names

The Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association would like to clarify the use of the various acronyms for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Chronic Fatigue & Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) on this site. When we generate our own articles on the illness, we will refer to it as ME/CFS, the term now generally used in the United States. When we are reporting on someone else’s report, we will use the term they use. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies, including the CDC, are currently using ME/CFS. 

Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association changed its name in July, 2018, to reflect this consensus.