Nu breekt mijn klomp! A New Beginning for Dutch Research into ME?
Over the last year or more the expectations for research into ME in the Netherlands has been boosted by work being carried out by a working group commissioned by the Dutch government to look at the requirements necessary to improve research and treatments for ME.
Ramon from EMEA Netherlands has provided this short update.
We will return to this topic in the future.
AN Update
After a process lasting more than a year, the ME/CFS research agenda was finalised in December 2020.
The agenda contains proposals for research lines in a future research programme on the disease myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CVS).
After approval by the ZonMw board the agenda was sent to the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) at the end of December.
The agenda was drawn up by a steering committee consisting of scientists, therapists and representatives of four patient organisations.
Over the course of a year, the steering committee and ZonMw collected input for the agenda from stakeholders in the Netherlands and abroad.
All these different points of view have now been brought together in a single research agenda, which can count on broad support in the field.
As we prepared this article we received breaking news:
The Dutch Minister of Health has just signed orders for the implementation of the 10 year international research program on causes, diagnosis and treatment of ME.
The total budget involved is 28,5 million Euros, all financed by the government.
This year everything will be prepared and the research is expected to begin at the beginning of 2022.
Congratulations to all EMEA Netherlands advocates and EMERG researchers who participated in this programme - something which Europe can look forward to and which will likely benefit all people with ME in Europe and their families.
Further Information:
Last Update: March 2021