U54AI178855

Cornell ME/CFS Collaborative Research Center - Project Summary:

Overall, despite the enormous suffering endured by millions of people worldwide, the underlying causes of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) are unknown and effective therapies are lacking. ME/CFS is characterized by debilitating fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, headaches, cognitive difficulties, orthostatic intolerance, and sleep disturbances. The absence of simple objective tests prevents many from obtaining an appropriate diagnosis and inhibits drug development because of the lack of biomarkers to monitor the efficacy of experimental therapies.

In order to gain fundamental mechanistic insights into ME/CFS, we will leverage the experience, capabilities, and varied backgrounds of researchers from four different colleges at Cornell University, Florida Atlantic University, the Hospital for Special Surgery, and an ME/CFS expert physician. We will take advantage of an enormous amount of data already obtained from patients and controls both before and after symptom provocation through exercise, as well as a valuable set of new samples.

Three research projects will seek to:

(1) Use cutting-edge multi-omic single cell profiling to examine alterations in cell types, gene expression, and cell-cell interactions that occur in ME/CFS muscle (Project 1).

(2) Identify tissue injured in ME/CFS following exercise through characterization of RNA released into circulation (Project 2).

(3) Identify the RNA and protein cargo of extracellular vesicles in ME/CFS patients that may alter the function of target cells (Project 2).

Additionally, we will use genomic and computational methods to better understand the gene regulatory mechanisms that result in immune dysregulation in ME/CFS and systematically identify ME/CFS-specific alterations in signaling across the immune system (Project 3).

These three research projects are supported by a Research Core that will act as a resource for genomics technology expertise, reagents, and services, as well as data management and integrated analysis. Multi-omic analysis and predictive modeling carried out in all three projects will provide a foundation for future development of therapeutics and diagnostic tests.

All center activities will be coordinated through an Administrative Core, which will foster synergy and integration within the center. The Administrative Core will also serve as the platform for collaboration with other ME/CFS Collaborative Research Centers, a Patient/Advocate/Caregiver Committee, other ME/CFS researchers, and the Data Management Coordinating Center. Additionally, the Administrative Core will be responsible for outreach activities designed to increase awareness and understanding of ME/CFS within the research community, health professionals, and the general public. It will also administer a Pilot Project Program designed to bring new ideas and researchers into the ME/CFS field.

Cornell University

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

New York United States

State-Wide

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Collaborative Research Centers (CRCs) (U54, Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans Allowed) (RFA-NS-22-019)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 134% from $1,896,394 to $4,428,634.