March 2009
CFIDSLink—e-News 

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CFIDSLink is e-mailed monthly free of charge to all those interested. Click here to sign up for this electronic newsletter.

In This Issue

From the CEO
Research Matters
On the Air
Treatment Matters
News & Notes
You Matter

Dear friend,
A year ago, we announced the ambitious Campaign to Accelerate CFS Research with its one-year fundraising goal of $1 million. By August, our supporters had enabled us to exceed that goal. Now the world has changed dramatically and we're making changes, too.
Read on...>>

Research Matters

Funded Studies Get Under Way; Meet 2 of the 6 Researchers
The CFIDS Association of America will fund six new research projects with grants totaling $647,940. Meet two of the six investigators being supported, Dr. Gordon Broderick of the University of Alberta and Dr. Dikoma Shungu of Weill Cornell University. Both researchers will present data from earlier studies at the IACFS/ME research conference this month in Reno. Profiles of the other four investigators and their projects will follow in April and May.

Meet Gordon Broderick, PhD >>(in PDF format)
Meet Dikoma Shungu, PhD>>(in PDF format)

IACFS/ME Conference This Month
The 9th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference will be held March 12-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The first day offers presentations for patients, caregivers and family members. The rest of the conference is geared to researchers and medical professionals. Visit http://www.iacfsme.org/IACFSMEConferenceMoreInfo/tabid/221/Default.aspx to learn more about the conference or to register.

Join CFIDS Association scientific director Suzanne D. Vernon, Ph.D. for a "Research 101" session at the IACFS/ME conference. On Thursday, March 12, Dr. Vernon will discuss the application of new technologic and computational tools to well-designed human observational and clinical studies to identify markers for early detection, diagnosis, subtyping and treatment. This three-hour workshop will be interactive and will encourage audience participation, questions and answers. (You must be registered for the IACFS/ME conference to participate.)

On the Air

Ask Dr. DeSilva About CFS
On Thursday, March 5 (tomorrow!), the Association's CEO, Kim McCleary, and scientific director Dr. Suzanne Vernon will be Dr. DeSilva's guests on his live one-hour radio program, heard nationally on the Health Radio Network.
More details follow here>>

Treatment Matters

More Hope for People With Fibromyalgia Pain
A third drug for fibromyalgia (FM) received FDA approval last month. Learn more about 3 treatments that may help relieve the widespread body pain and other FM symptoms that often accompany CFS.
Read on...>>

News & Notes

Public Awareness Campaign by the Numbers
Media coverage about CFS has been accumulating over the past two years since the launch of the first-ever national public awareness campaign about CFS. Check up on its progress in this report from the Association.

Have You Seen the Face of CFS?
The "Faces of CFS" portrait exhibit has been seen in 37 venues across the U.S. and by millions of shoppers, train passengers and museum visitors. Read about where it goes next>>

You Matter

First Survey Generates Reader Profile
660 CFIDSLink recipients responded to the first survey in our series; here's what you told us about your preferences.

Tell Us More!
Please participate in the second of our series of 10-item reader surveys. Follow this link>>

Find Us Now on Facebook!
The Association launched its facebook profile on Feb. 28 and has received a warm welcome. Get the details>>

Faces of Hope
Caitlin was no stranger to suffering, having been introduced at a young age to the pain of a family affected by CFS. Read Ann Castle's story about how her daughter Caitlin's visit to the "Faces of CFS" exhibit brought a spark of hope to her homebound life with CFS.