It’s Research Week at Bateman Horne Center! This means that as part of our Mission Possible giving campaign we fill you in on why research is so important to our organization and how we are using it to improve the lives of those with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, post-viral illness, and related conditions. However, I first want to thank all of those individuals who have participated in research and acknowledge the precious energy you sacrificed for the cause. Your involvement makes our Mission Possible.
Research – Validating Innovative Pathways
BHC conducts research to define the core signs, symptoms, and decrements in specific functioning. This is the starting place for drug development, clinical trials, and treatment for ME/CFS and FM. BHC also focuses on creating objective measures to diagnose ME/CFS and FM and drives biomarker discovery by sharing biological samples and clinical information with the brightest scientists from around the world.
2020 Milestones
- Published three landmark studies in the medical literature in 2020!
- “Hemodynamics during the 10-minute NASA Lean Test: evidence of circulatory decompensation in a subset of ME/CFS patients”
- “Clinically accessible tools for documenting the impact of orthostatic intolerance on symptoms and function in ME/CFS”
- “Accurate and Objective Determination of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Disease Severity with a Wearable Sensor”
- Completed second year follow-up of 4-year study of the largest cohort of short duration illness ME/CFS patients ever studied and is providing invaluable clinical and molecular clues about causal pathways of ME/CFS. Research is funded from the NIH together with Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine.
- Continued collaboration with Columbia University to identify blood markers associated with orthostatic intolerance. BHC has enrolled 50 of 100 ME/CFS patients and healthy volunteers and aims to complete enrollment early in 2021.
- Selected as one of 6 clinical sites to enroll 250 patients in a study to identify blood biomarkers of fibromyalgia that differentiate from other rheumatologic diseases.
- Launched as a clinical site for RALLY, a Phase 3, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 14-week study, designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an oral drug for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
- Collaborated with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the Food and Drug Administration to develop clinical assessment tools for use in ME/CFS clinical trials. BHC enrolled and completed this project in 6 months.
- Continued as a clinical site for a clinical trial to test the effectiveness and safety of fremanezumab (Ajovy) on patients with fibromyalgia.
- Completed enrollment for RELIEF, a Phase III clinical trial of an oral drug for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
What’s Next
- BHC will partner with Precisely to deliver automated health services to long COVID patients. Precisely is an intelligent health service from the creator of 23andMe.
- Sponsor and conduct ME/CFS and FM clinical trials.
Help us continue to move the mark and improve lives through early diagnosis and effective treatments by making a tax-deductible at YOU Make Our Mission Possible.
Lucinda Bateman, MD, is a renowned clinician, researcher, and educator. Her Johns Hopkins University Medical School training instilled an approach to care that she has employed throughout her career - the patient comes first and the unknown or unexplained does not equate to a lack of proper and compassionate care. Since starting her own practice in 2000, she has served on six boards or committees, been the principal investigator for 45 studies, authored/coauthored 40 journal articles, served as adjunct instructor and adjunct assistant professor in the University of Utah Departments of Preventative Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Anesthesiology, and lectured around the world.