National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases - NCNED

12/03/2026

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

The NCNED is pleased to release the latest edition of our newsletter (please see below).

Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to people you think may be interested and encourage them to contact us if we can assist them in any way.

Best wishes,
Sonya and the NCNED Team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, ME/ CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

09/03/2026

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗹𝗳 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝟯𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Australian Gulf War Veteran Association (AGWVA), with the support of HomeFront Australia, held a special National Commemoration Event to commemorate and honour all who served in the Gulf War 1990-1991. This event took place at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney on 28th of February 2026, coinciding with the 35th Anniversary of the cessation of hostilities.

Our GWI research to date has already resulted in two peer-reviewed publications and three research awards. NCNED was represented at this event by Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch, Dr Etianne Martini Sasso and Vivienne Baraniuk to encourage participants for two upcoming important studies. The first study involves collecting detailed symptom data to enable us to comprehensively publish on the long-term health impacts of GWI. The second is recruiting new volunteers from northern New South Wales and Southeast Queensland who are currently taking LDN to continue our calcium channel research. For further information about these studies please email: ncned@griffith.edu.au

Congratulations to all involved for the organisation of this truly memorable event!

Best wishes,
Sonya and the NCNED Team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, ME/ CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

02/03/2026

A/P Leighton Barnden, NCNED Researchers and our collaborator Prof. James Baraniuk from Georgetown University, have just published an important neuroimaging paper on the “𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙊𝙑𝙄𝘿 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙨.” The findings were published in 𝙎𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 - please see the link below:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-36986-1

This study used powerful MRI (7 Tesla), which is one of only two in Australia, to study the human brain non-invasively. This powerful MRI allows researchers to examine brain structures and function in far greater detail than a conventional MRI, enabling the detection of subtle abnormalities that would otherwise remain hidden.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟳 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝗹𝗮 𝗠𝗥𝗜:

- Long COVID participants showed slower response to the cognitive task performed inside the scanner confirming cognitive dysfunction

- Long COVID participants showed significant deficits in functional connectivity in multiple brain regions compared to healthy controls

- With longer illness duration in long COVID, functional connectivity weakened to critical brain networks supporting cognitive impairment in long COVID

- The widespread nature of brain functional connectivity abnormalities supports a hypothesis that long COVID derives from brain-wide deficits.

Best wishes,
Sonya and the NCNED Team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, ME/ CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

Cognitive dysfunction is a symptom of Long COVID. To characterize functional connectivity changes that may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in Long COVID (LCov), two consecutive 450 s functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans (Runs 1 and 2) were acquired on a 7 Tesla MRI scanner. Du...

23/02/2026

𝗡𝗖𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵

NCNED researchers were recently in Victoria collecting participant samples to expand our ion channel and immunological investigations in the fields of ME/CFS and long COVID. These samples contribute to research currently being undertaken by PhD candidate Urooj Ishrat.

We extend our gratitude to those who contributed to the success of sample processing and our hosts and collaborators at the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory.

Our work is not possible without the participants who dedicate their time, energy and samples to this research.

Together, these efforts move us one step closer to better understanding the pathomechanisms of ME/CFS and long COVID.

Kind regards,
Sonya and the NCNED Team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, / CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

18/02/2026

𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗘/𝗖𝗙𝗦 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵

NCNED is launching its first Double Blind 12 week Clinical Trial to investigate the effects of low dose naltrexone (LDN) in individuals with ME/CFS commencing in late March 2026.

We are currently seeking volunteers diagnosed by the CCC/ICC located in 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀.

𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮:
-Aged 18–65 years
-BMI between 18.5 and 29.9
-Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
-Not taking routine medications that may interfere with naltrexone, such as opioids

Participants will receive LDN at doses of 3–6 mg/day for 12 weeks. The trial will evaluate:
-Ion channel function
-Brain MRI imaging (participants must be able to travel to Brisbane for MRI appointments)
-Quality of life and symptom assessments, including cognitive function, sleep, fatigue and body pain

The study aims to assess the effect of LDN on key biological markers and patient-reported symptoms, helping advance understanding of potential treatments for ME/CFS.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲:
To register your interest or request further information, please email: ncned@griffith.edu.au

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: At the end of 2026 NCNED will commence this Double Blind Clinical Trial in Victoria that will continue into 2027.

Best wishes,
Sonya and the NCNED team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, ME/ CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

10/02/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

PhD student Ms Maira Inderyas, together with the NCNED Researchers, has published an important neuroimaging study titled “𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮𝙖𝙡𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙮𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙊𝙑𝙄𝘿 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙚: 𝙖 7 𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙡𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙠-𝙛𝙈𝙍𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮”. Please see the link below:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-026-07708-y

This study used ultra-high-field 7 Tesla MRI, one of only two scanners available for human research in Australia, to study human brain tissue non-invasively. This powerful technology allows researchers to examine brain structures and function in far greater detail than a standard MRI, enabling the detection of subtle abnormalities that would otherwise remain hidden.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟳 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝗹𝗮 𝗠𝗥𝗜:

• Distinct patterns of altered brain connectivity in both cortical and subcortical regions that are strongly associated with long COVID and ME/CFS.
• Reduced communication between the cerebellum, vermis and deep grey matter in people with long COVID and ME/CFS when cognitive fatigue was induced. This connectivity pattern is consistent with cognitive exhaustion experienced by patients.
• Association between altered brain connectivity, illness duration and cognitive performance. Specifically changes in how certain brain regions communicate were related to how long a person had been living with ME/CFS and to cognitive performance in both long COVID and ME/CFS groups.

Together, these findings suggest that brain function changes may develop or worsen over time and are closely linked to the thinking and cognitive difficulties reported by people living with long COVID and ME/CFS.

Best wishes,
Sonya and the NCNED team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, / CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID are chronic debilitating illnesses featuring fatigue, post-exertional malaise (P

03/02/2026

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦!!

CONGRATULATIONS to NCNED Researcher, Ms Maira Inderyas, on the successful submission of her PhD Thesis today!

Maira’s Thesis investigated how different regions of the brain respond during cognitively demanding tasks, examining how brain regions communicate with one another using ultra-high-field 7 Tesla MRI - one of only two such scanners available in Australia. Her research also explored how changes in brain connectivity relate to symptom severity in ME/CFS and long COVID, with the goal of identifying the specific brain regions that contribute to neurocognitive impairment in both conditions.

NCNED is extremely proud of Maira’s achievements and the outstanding body of work she has produced throughout her PhD. Maira has been an exceptional team member and has made a valuable and lasting contribution to ME/CFS and long COVID research.

We look forward to seeing Maira continue to excel in all of her future projects and career endeavours.

Best wishes,
Sonya and the NCNED team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, ME/ CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

27/01/2026

𝗡𝗖𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆

Dr Breanna Weigel and NCNED Researchers announce a new publication investigating the impact of living with ME/CFS in Australia over time.

Over the course of 12 months, research participants submitted data on symptom presentation and validated quality of life measures. No significant differences were observed in symptom presentation or quality of life over the study period, demonstrating consistent impairments in health and wellbeing among Australians living with ME/CFS.

As ME/CFS remains unrecognised as a disability in Australia, this investigation provides critical evidence of illness permanency and emphasises the need for healthcare policy reforms to improve access to disability and social support services to maximise wellbeing.

Please see the link to the paper below:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0338433

The NCNED team acknowledges all participants involved in this research.

Best wishes,
Sonya & the NCNED team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, / CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

Background Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling chronic illness. Many people with ME/CFS (pwME/CFS) are unable to continue employment and require support to complete activities of daily living. Despite this, ME/CFS remains unrecognised as a disability in Austral...

19/01/2026

𝗔 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝗖𝗡𝗘𝗗, 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗘/𝗖𝗙𝗦: 𝗙𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗥𝗣𝗠𝟯 𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆.

Since 2015, NCNED has pioneered the application of the gold standard for assessing ion channel function, demonstrating that the movement of calcium into cells is impaired in people with ME/CFS. This gold standard method is used to identify receptor dysfunction in various diseases. NCNED has reported faulty ion channel function and abnormal calcium findings in numerous different ME/CFS cohorts since 2015.

Given NCNED’s novel and seminal ion channel and calcium findings in ME/CFS, NCNED in collaboration with Professor Livia Hool from University of Western Australia, undertook a large multisite investigation. Under the leadership of the Chief Investigator of an NHMRC Grant, Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, NCNED and the University of Western Australia researchers conducted this comprehensive study, recently publishing the seminal paper “𝙇𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚-𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙏𝙍𝙋𝙈3 𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙙𝙮𝙨𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙀/𝘾𝙁𝙎” in Frontiers in Medicine. Please see the link below:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1703924/full

This multi-site investigation provides robust evidence that TRPM3 - a crucial ion channel responsible for moving calcium into cells – is not functioning properly in people with ME/CFS.

Using a gold-standard technique across independent Australian research laboratories more than 4,000 km apart, the study confirmed a significant and reproducible reduction in TRPM3 function for calcium in ME/CFS patients. This multisite investigation provides further evidence of ion channel and calcium dysfunction in the pathomechanisms of ME/CFS. NCNED is leading the world with this discovery.

Faulty TRPM3 channels act like “stuck doors”, preventing cells from receiving the calcium they need to function properly. This impairment helps explain many of the chronic and debilitating symptoms experienced by individuals with ME/CFS. The confirmation of TRPM3 impairment in individuals with ME/CFS supports ongoing efforts to develop diagnostic tools and future therapeutic options for ME/CFS.

We are leading the world with these pivotal ion channel and calcium discoveries for identifying the pathomechanisms of ME/CFS. These continued novel advances would not have been possible without the ongoing support of our ME/CFS participants and granting bodies.

Best wishes,
Sonya and the NCNED team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, ME/ CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia

12/01/2026

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Recently NCNED's Director, Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, was awarded the annual Vice Chancellor's Research Excellence Award. She was delighted to win this award, however, she stated this award was a TEAM effort and kudos goes to the students she supervised throughout the years for being amazing researchers and trusting her to take them on a research journey to cement their success into the future. Importantly, she also emphasised NCNED is always focused on a team effort where the Co-Supervisors of these students have made significant contributions to ensure the students' success and for this reason this award is also shared by them.

Best wishes,
Sonya and NCNED team

NCNED would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers, Support Groups and the following Organizations:
• The Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation
• National Health and Medical Research Council
• MERUK
• Dr John Hamwood
• The McCusker Charitable Foundation
• Mr Adrian Flack
• Talei Stewart
• The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
• The Buxton Foundation
• The Henty Community
• The Blake Beckett Foundation
• Change for ME Charity
• QLD ME/CFS/FM Support Association
• WA ME/CFS and Lyme Association
• Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Gold Coast Support Group Inc
• Tweed ME/CFS/FM Lyme Support Group
• ME/CFS South Australia Inc
• ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc
• ME/CFS Australia Ltd
• National Advocacy Advisory Council for ME/CFS

Griffith University, Griffith Health, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tom Kindlon's ME CFS & related page: News, Research and more, ME/CFS Australia, ME Australia, ME CFS and Lyme Association of WA, ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc, Fibromyalgia me/cfs Gold Coast Support Group Inc., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia NSW, Australia, My QoL, / CFS South Australia Inc, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Group Australia Ltd, Australian National Advisory Advocacy Council for ME/CFS Research - NAAC, ME Research UK, Me/cfs San Diego, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis M.E Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS Science, Leeds ME Network, Stichting ME Research, Bristol ME Support Group, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, ME Long Covid unite SA, May 12th International ME CFS FM Awareness Day Australia, FJD/Robotech Robot line markers Australia