Tag Archives: priorities

The NIH RFA Ticker

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Today, I’m debuting a new weekly feature that I call the NIH RFA Ticker. My goal is to give you the data you need to help assess whether NIH is doing all it can to promote and fund ME/CFS research. … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Saying No

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

How To Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness is Toni Bernhard’s latest book. I’ve reviewed Toni’s previous books (here, here, and here), but over the course of years, Toni has become one of my most beloved friends. So while … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

The NIH Plan

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

(updated November 9, 2015) Unless you have been avoiding the internet for the last week, you already know that NIH has made a big announcement regarding its plans for ME/CFS research. Dr. Francis Collins has made some remarkable and welcome … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Commentary, Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

CFSAC Testimony, Jennie Spotila, August 18, 2015

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Unfortunately, I am too sick to offer public comment by telephone for the August 18-19, 2015 meeting of the CFS Advisory Committee. I submitted these written comments for the record. Thank you to all of the advocates who are speaking … Continue reading →

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CDC: Speculations and Consequences

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Controversy continues over the Senate appropriations committee report’s recommendation that the CDC’s CFS program funding be eliminated for FY 2016. We have certainly debated the merits and faults of the program from just about every angle on this blog. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 74 Comments

No CDC Funding for CFS?

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

ME/CFS advocates focus almost exclusively on research funding from the National Institutes of Health, and with good reason. But now it appears that funding for the Centers for Disease Control’s CFS program may be at risk in the 2016 appropriations … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Commentary, Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 225 Comments

Deadlines and Opportunities

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

There are a number of opportunities for ME/CFS advocacy right now – all of which you can do on your own from home! Here are the details: CFS Advisory Committee Public Comment: The Federal Register notice for the August 18-19th … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A New Strategic Plan

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

The National Institutes of Health is creating its first strategic plan, at the request of Congress. The public now has an opportunity to comment, and this is an important opportunity to reinforce the need for ME/CFS research funding. Liz Willow … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Return of CFSAC

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Publicly, the CFS Advisory Committee has been MIA this year. There were some comings and goings, and general silence, but now there is finally movement to report. UPDATE July 28, 2015: The Federal Register notice for the meeting has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Brian Vastag to Dr. Francis Collins

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Yesterday, an open letter from science writer Brian Vastag to Dr. Francis Collins (Director, NIH) flashed around the ME/CFS social media-sphere like lightning. Then it spread among Brian’s high profile colleagues, like Martin Enserink and Carl Zimmer. Brian’s letter is … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments