Jon Kaiser

Jon D. Kaiser, MD, a Clinical Associate Instructor in the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, board member of International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, and Medical Director and CEO of K-PAX Pharmaceuticals in Mill Valley

Dr. Kaiser also lives with ME/CFS: "It took me five years to recover from it to the point where I was close to normally functional...If I work too hard, if some sort of stress occurs that I can't avoid, I can have a relapse that will last days to weeks," Kaiser said. "One of the things that got me interested in micronutrients and supplements early on was my use of them to help support my recovery."

Dr. Kaiser has retired from private practice after treating patients with HIV, cancer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other immune system disorders for the past twenty-five years, in order to focus on research. He is currently working on the Synergy Trial, a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of a new treatment that would help improve the fatigue and decreased concentration symptoms for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The treatment is a compound which combines a low dosage prescription stimulant medication, methylphenidate hydrochloride, with over-the-counter mitochondrial support nutrients.

Education

• Undergraduate degree in philosophy from the State University of New York
• MD, from University of Texas Medical School in Houston, receiving honors in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

Articles

• 2014, Stimulating Energy: Enhancing the Mitochondria in the Synergy Clinical Trial for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, by Cort Johnson
• 2015, Jon Kaiser, MD: Supporting Mitochondrial Health With Nutrient Therapy

Talks and interviews

• 2014, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) - Improving Mitochondrial Energy Production
• 2015, Jon Kaiser, MD: Supporting Mitochondrial Health With Nutrient Therapy. (Full transcript of interview)
• 2015, Mitochondrial Medicine and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Notable studies

• 2015, A prospective, proof-of-concept investigation of KPAX002 in chronic fatigue syndrome. (Full Text)
• 2018, KPAX002 as a treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A prospective, randomized trial (Full Text)

Learn more

• The Synergy Trial

See also

• International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

double blinded trial A clinical trial is double blinded if neither the participants nor the researchers know which treatment group they are allocated to until after the results are interpreted. This reduces bias. (Learn more: www.nottingham.ac.uk)

mitochondria Important parts of the biological cell, with each mitochondrion encased within a mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondria are best known for their role in energy production, earning them the nickname "the powerhouse of the cell". Mitochondria also participate in the detection of threats and the response to these threats. One of the responses to threats orchestrated by mitochondria is apoptosis, a cell suicide program used by cells when the threat can not be eliminated.

mitochondria Important parts of the biological cell, with each mitochondrion encased within a mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondria are best known for their role in energy production, earning them the nickname "the powerhouse of the cell". Mitochondria also participate in the detection of threats and the response to these threats. One of the responses to threats orchestrated by mitochondria is apoptosis, a cell suicide program used by cells when the threat can not be eliminated.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.