Author Archives: Jennie Spotila

FDA Guidance: Doors Open

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

On Wednesday, April 23rd, the FDA hosted a webinar to explain the Draft Guidance for Industry Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Development Drug Products for Treatment. FDA briefly reviewed the document and took questions in real time. See my original review … Continue reading →

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Guidance from FDA

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

This Wednesday, FDA will host an informational webinar about the Draft Guidance to Industry on Drug Development for ME/CFS. I hope you can attend and learn more about the Guidance document, because public comments are due May 12, 2014! This … Continue reading →

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Research Roadmap

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

The Research Recruitment Working Group of the CFS Advisory Committee has been formulating recommendations that could potentially change the direction of ME/CFS research at NIH. Not much time has been spent on it at the last two meetings, but I … Continue reading →

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Don’t Silence Yourself

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

On May 5th, the IOM panel creating new diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS will hold its second public meeting. The only way you can provide input is by submitting written comments, unless you are an invited speaker. I’m here to plead … Continue reading →

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Demonstration Planned

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

May 12th – ME/CFS Awareness Day – is just over a month away. Plans for a demonstration are underway, via Erica Verillo. Erica is organizing a May 12th demonstration at HHS in San Francisco from noon-1 PM in front of … Continue reading →

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Congress: We Need An RFA

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

I am very happy to report that an effort is underway to secure Congressional support for a $7-10 million RFA for ME/CFS funding at NIH. And there is something YOU can do to help! Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

2013 NIH Spending on CFS Studies

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

Update: This post was revised on October 29, 2016 to correct mathematical errors and update the included research. I have positive news to report: NIH spending on ME/CFS  in 2013 was actually higher than it was in 2012. Are you … Continue reading →

Posted in Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Reading Tea Leaves

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

In a report issued on March 12, the IOM panel tasked with creating a new case definition for Gulf War Illness declined to do so. This is the first time the IOM was attempting to create a disease case definition, … Continue reading →

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Changing Tactics

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

For decades, ME/CFS research and clinical care has been plagued by disagreement over the basic classification of the illness. Is ME/CFS a physical disease, as many patients and researchers insist? Or is it a mental health disorder perpetuated by deconditioning, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Infused

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

I’m beginning a new experiment: IV saline. Regular saline infusions have been used by many ME/CFS patients to cope with orthostatic intolerance for years, but I’ve never taken them regularly. Yesterday, I received the first of four weekly treatments. How … Continue reading →

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