Me/cfs Alliance

02/04/2026

“Stronger Together” MECFS Alliance Symposium Update

It is hard to believe that more than 3 weeks have passed since our ME/CFS Alliance symposium. Many of us on the team are still recovering from the efforts involved in bringing the event together — particularly those of us with more than an academic interest in the condition — so please forgive the slight delay in sending updates.

Thank you again for being with us on the day. Your presence helped make the symposium the energising and thoughtful gathering that it was.

We would very much like to maintain the momentum that emerged from the discussions and to think together about how it might be carried forward through continued collaboration.

If you have a moment, we would be most grateful if you might share a sentence or two about what felt most significant or memorable to you, and any thoughts you may have on how we might build on the opportunities that arose. Please send these to [email protected]

The filming from the day is currently being edited, and we hope to upload the final videos to the ME/CFS Alliance website in the near future, so that the sessions can be streamed and revisited.

We were also very pleased to share the coverage from the BBC, both the video from BBC South Today and the link to their article Link to BBC Article available at www.mecfsalliance.org

With our very best wishes,

Opal and the MECFS Alliance Team

02/04/2026

“Stronger Together” MECFS Alliance Symposium Update

https://vimeo.com/1179416266

It is hard to believe that more than 3 weeks have passed since our ME/CFS Alliance symposium. Many of us on the team are still recovering from the efforts involved in bringing the event together — particularly those of us with more than an academic interest in the condition — so please forgive the slight delay in sending updates.

Thank you again for being with us on the day. Your presence helped make the symposium the energising and thoughtful gathering that it was.

We would very much like to maintain the momentum that emerged from the discussions and to think together about how it might be carried forward through continued collaboration.

If you have a moment, we would be most grateful if you might share a sentence or two about what felt most significant or memorable to you, and any thoughts you may have on how we might build on the opportunities that arose. Please send these to [email protected]

The filming from the day is currently being edited, and we hope to upload the final videos to the ME/CFS Alliance website in the near future, so that the sessions can be streamed and revisited.

We were also very pleased to share the coverage from the BBC, both the video from BBC South Today and the link to their article Link to BBC Article

With our very best wishes,

Opal and the MECFS Alliance Team

This is "BBC South Today Coverage of MECFS Symposium" by Kat Hartwell Goose on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

06/03/2026

Sam, 30, was one of the attendees at the Stronger Together, a ME/CFS Alliance symposium at Wi******er Cathedral on Wednesday.

The event was a meeting point for leading scientists and researchers into the causes of ME/CFS, Long Covid and post infectious disease to discuss the way forward.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewzzw224qpo?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ6riVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeE1EREyYPgnzKO6YQbpJUSZzP9b50VHbozpN_ojuiggN_9vRIN70vf152zTo_aem_licc6HmBX4txVkSskZqb8g

Patients and scientists appeal for government help in moving research forward.

05/03/2026

Coverage of our MECFS event in Wi******er"Stronger Together" was covered on BBC South Today

Our segment starts at 10:25 minutes into the programme 💜

Thank you to all who made it such a wonderful event (more updates soon but the team are taking time for much needed rest)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002s7gv/south-today-evening-news-05032026

The latest news, sport and weather for the South of England.

02/03/2026

“Stronger Together” has been arranged by the Wi******er-based ME/CFS Alliance to mark its 20th anniversary.

The alliance, in partnership with Prof Sir Stephen Holgate, is hosting the scientific symposium on Wednesday March 4 at The Pavilion, Wi******er Cathedral, from 10am to 4.30pm.

It will being together leading UK and international scientists, clinicians, ME charities, people with ME/CFS, families, and supporters, the symposium aims to define the next steps in ME research and accelerate national momentum to make ME and Long Covid a strategic priority in the UK.

THE next steps in research into ME will be discussed at a gathering in Wi******er.

09/02/2026

Dear Friends,
On 4th March 2026, we are holding an event that we hope will make a difference to two million people in the UK suffering from ME/CFS (including those with Long Covid).
Would you consider supporting us to make this happen?
In August 2025, the DeCodeME study published ground-breaking results identifying eight genetic signals in ME sufferers. These signals are a road-map to the next level of research that could finally uncover the biomedical causes of the disease. (https://www.channel4.com/news/me-linked-to-your-genetics-early-study-indicates). Despite this being a world first, the UK government will not allocate further funding at this crucial time. In comparison, Germany has designated 500 million Euros to post-viral conditions, including Long Covid and ME.
The Wi******er-based ME/CFS Alliance, in collaboration with Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, is spearheading a necessary and vital collaboration of UK and international scientists, clinicians, stakeholders and ME charities at Wi******er Cathedral to discuss the next strategic steps of ME research that urgently needs to happen.
We rely entirely on donations from like-minded individuals and organisations who want to make a difference and give hope to 2 million ME/CFS patients both in our local community and across the UK.
We have been overwhelmed by the calibre of experts and scientists who have agreed to come and
present at the event:
• Prof. Sir Stephen Holgate, Professor of Immunopharmacology, University of Southampton
• Prof. Chris Ponting, Chair of Medical Bioinformatics, University of Edinburgh
• Prof. Danny Altmann, Professor of Immunology, Imperial College London
• Prof. Nisreen Alwen, Professor of Public Health, University of Southampton
• Dr. Karl Morten, investigating the underlying biological mechanism of ME/CFS, Oxford University
• Dr Carmen Scheibenbogen, Immunologist at the University of Berlin
• Dr. Rob Wust, from the Netherlands, presenting his research on mitochondria
• Dr Nancy Klimas, Director of Neuro Immune Medicine and Clinical Research Miami
We are seeking sponsorship of £100 – £3000. Any contribution your organisation can make will help to make this important event happen and, in return, it will be promoted in a prominent way at our event.
If you can help, please email: [email protected]
Kindest regards,
Opal Webster-Philp (Chair) ME/CFS Alliance

24/03/2025

*An Exclusive Tour of HMS Queen Elizabeth*

This is a unique opportunity for one family to have a personal, guided tour of the UK’s flagship aircraft carrier, at Portsmouth, by a Senior Flight Deck Officer. At 65,000 tonnes, she is the largest ship ever sailed by His Majesty’s Royal Navy and civilians are rarely allowed onboard. This prize is being offered to help raise funds for ME/CFS research.

Place your silent-auction bid by 10am Fri 4th April at info@mecfsalliance. org.uk
Good luck!

03/03/2025

Hampshire Solutions presents

An Easter Extravaganza!

In support of The ME/CFS Alliance Raising awareness to encourage more bio-medical research into these conditions

Dancing to

Liam White's 3 Piece Band

playing Swing & Soul Sounds

Saturday 5th April 2025

Tickets £20 per person

Twyford Parish Hall, Hazeley Road, Twyford, SO21 IQY 7.30pm till late

★★★

Includes meal with vegetarian/vegan option

Dessert £2.50 Tea & Coffee £l

Cash Bar Raffle

Tickets available from:

The Point of Health: 02380 269809

The Alliance: 01962878803

or email The Alliance: [email protected]