Center for Enervating NeuroImmune Disease

Center for Enervating NeuroImmune Disease (CENID) is a center at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and Weill Cornell Medical College in Manhattan, NYC, NY for the study of ME/CFS. The name, suggested by a patient, derives from the definition of enervating which means to cause you to feel weak and lacking in energy. The center includes three laboratories at Weill Cornell, eight labs from the Cornell campus in Ithaca, and one at Ithaca College. The center's leaders are hoping the center will attract additional researchers to study the illness.

Mission

To promote research to identify the cause(s), biomarkers, and pathophysiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease in order to lead to prevention and effective treatments.

Team members

Leadership

• Maureen Hanson - Center Director
• Susi Varvayanis, M.S. - Executive Director

Researchers and clinicians

• Fabien Campagne, Ph.D. - Bioinformatics, Gene Expression (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• John Chia - Enteroviruses in ME/CFS (UCLA)
• Andrew Grimson, Ph.D. - Single Cell RNAseq & MicroRNAs (Cornell University)
• Ludovic Giloteaux, Ph.D. - Extracellular Vesicles (Cornell University)
• Zhenglong Gu, Ph.D. - Mitochondrial Genomics (Cornell University)
• Paul Guyre, Ph.D. - Immunology & Stress Physiology (Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine)
• Yeona Kang, Ph.D. - PET Neuroimaging (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• Betsy Keller, Ph.D. - Exercise Physiology (Ithaca College)
• Susan Levine - Immunology & Adult ME/CFS (Cornell University)
• Xiangling Mao, M.S. - MRS Neuroimaging (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• Geoffrey E. Moore, M.D. - Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology (Healthy Living and Exercise Medicine Associates)
• Daniel Peterson, M.D. - Diagnosis & Treatment (Simmaron Research)
• David Ruppert, Ph.D. - Data Analysis (Cornell University)
• Frank Schroeder, Ph.D. - Metabolomics (Cornell University)
• Dikoma Shungu, Ph.D. - Neuroimaging (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• Staci Stevens, MA - Exercise Physiology (Workwell Foundation)
• J. Mark VanNess, Ph.D. - Exercise Physiology (Workwell Foundation)
• Pascal Spincemaille, Ph.D. - Neuroimaging (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• Jared Stevens, B.S. - Exercise Physiology (Workwell Foundation)
• Yi Wang, Ph.D. - Neuroimaging (Weill Cornell Medicine & Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University)
• Sheng Zhang, M.S., M.D. - Proteomics (Cornell University)

Consultants

• Avery August, Ph.D. - T Cell Development (Cornell University)
• David Bell, M.D. - Pediatric ME/CFS (SUNY, Cornell University)
• John Babich, Ph.D. - PET Neuroimaging (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• Olivier Elemento, Ph.D. - RNA Sequencing (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• Evelyn Horn, M.D. - Cardiology (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• Alon Keinan, Ph.D. - Human Population & Medical Genetics (Cornell University)
• Gary Koretsky, M.D. - Advisor to the Center Director (Weill Cornell Medicine)
• Christopher Snell, Ph.D. - Exercise Physiology (Workwell Foundation)

Patient advocates

• Carol Head - Solve ME/CFS Initiative
• Daniel Thiel, Ph.D.
• Erica Verrillo - American Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society
• Susan Taylor-Brown, PhD, MPH - ME Action NY
• Sadie Whittaker, Ph.D. - Solve ME/CFS Initiative

Learn more

• Website

enterovirus A genus of RNA viruses which typically enter the body through the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems and sometimes spread to the central nervous system or other parts of the body, causing neurological, cardiac, and other damage. Since the first reports of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), enteroviruses have been suspected as a cause of ME. Enteroviruses have also been implicated as the cause of Type I diabetes, congestive heart failure, and other conditions. Enteroviruses include poliovirus, coxsackieviruses, and many others. New enteroviruses and new strains of existing enteroviruses are continuously being discovered. (Learn more: viralzone.expasy.org)

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

extracellular vesicle An extracellular vesicle (sometimes abbreviated EV) is a piece of a cell that has broken off and formed a separate membrane-bound vesicle. A membrane-bound vesicle is like a bubble, or like a mini-cell, in that it has a membrane surrounding some liquid. An extracellular vesicle may also contain some parts of the cell from which the extracellular vesicle arose. There are currently two types of extracellular vesicles: "exosomes" and "microvesicles". An "exosome" is an extracellular vesicle that began inside the cell as an intracellular vesicle known as an "endosome". A "microvesicle" is an extracellular vesicle that begins at the cell surface, and pinches off the cell's own membrane to form a separate vesicle. (Learn more: journals.physiology.org)

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.

stress Stress can by either physical or psychological, or both. Stress is either 1) a state of emotional or psychological strain or 2) the physical stress (pressure or tension) that a physical object such the human body is placed under, e.g., a stress test is a medical test that monitors the cardiovascular system during strenuous exercise.

metabolomics The analysis of the chemical metabolism within cells, tissues or organisms. The term is often used to refer to the full set of metabolites found in a cell in a given environment.