EUROMENE

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

EUROMENE stands for European ME Network, also called European Network on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It was started by the Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Association, an international not-for-profit organization. Funding was approved for four years and may be extended longer upon approval. COST refers to the formation of EUROMENE as COST Action 15111 or CA15111.[1]

The official start date of the organization was April 21, 2016 and it was funded until April 20, 2020 unless extension is approved.[2]

Countries[edit | edit source]

As of spring 2018, the following countries were participating in EUROMENE: Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Goals[edit | edit source]

The following objectives were listed on the memorandum for the implementation of the network:

Research Coordination[1]

  • Develop strategies to collect population-based data on the prevalence of ME/CFS, including standardized procedures with pilot studies in selected locations; develop a geographical mapping of ME/CFS epidemiology involving correlations with other mapped information
  • Promote co-operation and involvement of research groups with an objective to assess potential biomarkers for ME/CFS capable to evaluation of various infections and immunological disorders as causal factors or comorbidities
  • Define a standardized clinical diagnosis for ME/CFS for clinicians and researchers that allows the identification of relatively homogenous sets of patients, who can be studied to identify pathogenesis mechanisms, biomarkers and disease process in a stratified way, as well as to be compared with other researched populations
  • Coordinate efforts to determine the social impact of ME/CFS and to appraise the economic damage from the disease
  • Establish communication links with industrial organisations, especially small/medium-sized enterprise (SMEs), in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and ICT industries in each participating country to develop collaborative research and innovation proposals


Capacity Building[1]

  • Integrate Early Career Investigators (ECI) into network activities, providing optimal diffusion of knowledge and special translational research skills; Demonstrate ME/CFS as a promising field for carrier development in science
  • Foster knowledge exchange on use of synchronised diagnostic criteria and management of research in ME/CFS, -omics and bioinformatics, translational research in ME/CFS by involving relevant stakeholders, interested researchers, ECIs and clinicians, and organizing working groups, seminars, training schools, and Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)
  • Provide update in novel ME/CFS knowledge via short training events with an efficient participant involvement

Management committee[edit | edit source]

The following are listed as being participants of the COST Action CA15111 / EUROMENE[3]:

  • Chair - Professor Modra Murovska, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
  • Vice Chair - Dr. Eliana Lacerda, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK

Scientific Committee[edit | edit source]

Working groups[edit | edit source]

Epidemiology working group[edit | edit source]

Members

Dr. Jesús Castro-Marrero, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
Dr. Slobodan Sekulic, Medical Faculty Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Dr. Eliana Lacerda, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
Dr. Fernando Estévez-López, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Dr. Nuno Sepulveda, Centre of Statistics and Application of University of Lisbon, Portugal

Substitutes

Dr. Maja Vukadinovic, Novi Sad Business School, Novi Sad, Serbia
Professor Jordi Miro, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain

Participants

Inger Johanne Bakken
Andrejs Ivanovs
Francis Guillemin[5]

Biomarkers working group[edit | edit source]

Members

Professor Carmen Scheibenbogen, Charite, Germany
Professor Enrica Capelli, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Professor Modra Murovska, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
Dr. Henrik Nielsen, PrivatHospitalet Danmark, Denmark
Professor Thomas Harrer, Universitatsklinikum Erlangen, Germany
Professor Jonas Blomberg, Uppsala University, Sweden
Professor Jonas Bergquist, Uppsala University, Sweden
Professor Svetlana Orlova, RRPCEM, Minsk, Belarus
Professor Mira Meeus, Universiteit Antwerpen, Belgium
Professor Ivan Brandslund, Vejle, Denmark
Professor Evelina Shikova-Lekova, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Bulgaria

Substitutes

Dr. Bhupesh Prusty, Julius Maximilian University of Wuerzburg, Germany
Dr. Patricia Grabowski, Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany
Ms. Santa Rasa, Riga Stradins University, Latvia
Ms. Zaiga Nora-Krukle, Riga Stradins University, Latvia;
Ms. Helma Freitag, Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany

Participants

Professor Elisa Oltra, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain
Dr. Franziska Sotzny, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
Dr. Jacqueline Cliff, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
Artsiom Shtyrau, Belarus[6]

Socio-economics working group[edit | edit source]

Members

Professor Derek Pheby, Buckinghamshire New University, United Kingdom
Dr. Uldis Berkis, Riga Stradins University, Latvia
Dr John Cullinan, NUI Galway Discipline of Economics, Ireland
Dr. Dominic Trepel, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Professor Jean-Dominique de Korwin, Lorraine University and Nancy University Hospital, France

Substitutes

Professor Jonathan Edwards, University College London, UK
Dr Julià Blanco, Fundacio Institut Germans trias i Pujol, Spain

Participants

Dr. Lara Gitto, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Rachael Hunt
Elenka Brenna, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy
Dr. Xia Wang-Steverding, University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K.
Asja Lunga, Riga Stradins University, Latvia[7]

Clinical research enablers and diagnostic criteria working group[edit | edit source]

Members

Dr. Elin B. Strand, Oslo University Hospital HF CFS/ME Centre, Norway
Professor Jerome Authier, Paris Est-Creteil University, France
Dr. Magdalena Budisteanu, "Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia" Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Romania
Dr. Jose Alegre-Martin, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
Dr Olli Polo, Unesta Research Center, Tampere, Finland
Prof. Giorgos Sakkas, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
Dr Ruud Vermeulen, CVS/ME Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Uros Marusic

Substitutes

Dr. Luis Nacul, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
Dr. Ingrid Bergliot Helland, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
Professor Angelika Krumina, Riga Stradins University, Latvia
Rado Pišot[8]

Working Group on conferences, seminars, training schools, STSMs[edit | edit source]

Conferences, seminars, training schools

Professor Evelina Shikova-Lekova, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Bulgaria

STSM

Dr. Els Tobback, (STSM COORDINATION), University Hospital Ghent, Belgium
Dr. Carmen Adella Sirbu, Central Military Emergency Hospital, Romania

Working Group on dissemination and exploitation, patient involvement, digitalisation[edit | edit source]

Dr Lorenzo Lorusso, A.O. Mellino Mellini, Italy
Professor Anne Marit Mengshoel, University of Oslo, Norway

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

  • 2017, The European ME/CFS Biomarker Landscape project: an initiative of the European network EUROMENE[9] - (Full Text)
  • 2018, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Evidence for an autoimmune disease[10] - (Full text)
  • 2018, Prevalence and incidence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in Europe—the Euro-epiME study from the European network EUROMENE: a protocol for a systematic review[11] - (Full text)
  • 2018, Chronic viral infections in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)[12] - (Full text)
  • 2020, The Development of a Consistent Europe-Wide Approach to Investigating the Economic Impact of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS): A Report from the European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE)[13] - (Full text)
  • 2020, Systematic Review of the Epidemiological Burden of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Across Europe: Current Evidence and EUROMENE Research Recommendations for Epidemiology[14] - (Full text)
  • 2020, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Human herpesvirus-6 Infections in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome[15] - (Full text)
  • 2021, Relationship between cardiopulmonary, mitochondrial and autonomic nervous system function improvement after an individualised activity programme upon Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients[16] - (Full text)

Online presence[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) (October 30, 2015), Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the COST Action "European Network on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" (EUROMENE) CA15111 (PDF)
  2. European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) (2015), Parties of the COST Action "European Network on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" (EUROMENE) CA15111
  3. European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) (2015), Management Committee of the COST Action "European Network on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" (EUROMENE) CA15111
  4. "Scientific Committee". EUROMENE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  5. "Epidemiology". EUROMENE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  6. "Biomarkers". EUROMENE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  7. "Socio-economics". EUROMENE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  8. "Clinical Research Enabler and Diagnostic Criteria". EUROMENE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  9. Scheibenbogen, Carmen; Freitag, Helma; Blanco, Julià; Capelli, Enrica; Lacerda, Eliana; Authier, Jerome; Meeus, Mira; Castro Marrero, Jesus; Nora-Krukle, Zaiga; Oltra, Elisa; Strand, Elin Bolle; Shikova, Evelina; Sekulic, Slobodan; Murovska, Modra (July 26, 2017). "The European ME/CFS Biomarker Landscape project: an initiative of the European network EUROMENE". Journal of Translational Medicine. 15 (1). doi:10.1186/s12967-017-1263-z. ISSN 1479-5876. PMC 5530475. PMID 28747192.
  10. Sotzny, Franziska; Blanco, Julià; Capelli, Enrica; Castro-Marrero, Jesús; Steiner, Sophie; Murovska, Modra; Scheibenbogen, Carmen (2018). "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Evidence for an autoimmune disease". Autoimmunity Reviews. 17 (6): 601-609. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2018.01.009.
  11. Estévez-López, Fernando; Castro-Marrero, Jesus; Wang, Xia; Bakken, Inger Johanne; Ivanovs, Andrejs; Nacul, Luis; Sepúlveda, Nuno; Strand, Elin B.; Pheby, Derek; Alegre, José; Scheibenbogen, Carmen; Shikova, Evelina; Lorusso, Lorenzo; Capelli, Enrica; Sekulic, Slobodan; Lacerda, Eliana; Murovska, Modra (September 1, 2018). "Prevalence and incidence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in Europe—the Euro-epiME study from the European network EUROMENE: a protocol for a systematic review". BMJ Open. 8 (9): e020817. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020817. ISSN 2044-6055. PMID 30181183.
  12. Rasa, Santa; Nora-Krukle, Zaiga; Henning, Nina; Eliassen, Eva; Shikova, Evelina; Harrer, Thomas; Scheibenbogen, Carmen; Murovska, Modra; Prusty, Bhupesh K.; European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE) (October 1, 2018). "Chronic viral infections in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)". Journal of Translational Medicine. 16 (1). doi:10.1186/s12967-018-1644-y. ISSN 1479-5876. PMID 30285773.
  13. Pheby, Derek F.H.; Araja, Diana; Berkis, Uldis; Brenna, Elenka; Cullinan, John; de Korwin, Jean-Dominique; Gitto, Lara; Hughes, Dyfrig A; Hunter, Rachael M; Trepel, Dominic; Wang-Steverding, Xia (April 7, 2020). "The Development of a Consistent Europe-Wide Approach to Investigating the Economic Impact of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS): A Report from the European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE)". Healthcare. 8 (2): 88. doi:10.3390/healthcare8020088. ISSN 2227-9032.
  14. Estévez-López, Fernando; Mudie, Kathleen; Wang-Steverding, Xia; Bakken, Inger Johanne; Ivanovs, Andrejs; Castro-Marrero, Jesús; Nacul, Luis; Alegre, Jose; Zalewski, Paweł; Słomko, Joanna; Bolle Strand, Elin; Pheby, Derek; Shikova, Evelina; Lorusso, Lorenzo; Capelli, Enrica; Sekulic, Slobodan; Scheibenbogen, Carmen; Sepúlveda, Nuno; Murovska, Modra; Lacerda, Eliana (May 2020). "Systematic Review of the Epidemiological Burden of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Across Europe: Current Evidence and EUROMENE Research Recommendations for Epidemiology". Journal of Clinical Medicine. 9 (5): 1557. doi:10.3390/jcm9051557.
  15. Shikova, Evelina; Reshkova, Valentina; Kumanova, Аntoniya; Raleva, Sevdalina; Alexandrova, Dora; Capo, Natasa; Murovska, Modra (2020). "Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus-6 infections in patients with myalgic еncephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome". Journal of Medical Virology. doi:10.1002/jmv.25744. ISSN 1096-9071.
  16. Kujawski, Sławomir; Cossington, Jo; Słomko, Joanna; Zawadka-Kunikowska, Monika; Tafil-Klawe, Małgorzata; Klawe, Jacek; Buszko, Katarzyna; Jakovljevic, Djordje; Kozakiewicz, Mariusz; Morten, Karl J.; Dawes, Helen; Strong, James W.L.; Murovska, Modra; Van Oosterwijck, Jessica; Estevez-Lopez, Fernando; Newton, Julia L.; Hodges, Lynette; Zalewski, Paweł; European Network on ME/CFS, (EUROMENE) (April 6, 2021). "Relationship between Cardiopulmonary, Mitochondrial and Autonomic Nervous System Function Improvement after an Individualised Activity Programme upon Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients". Journal of Clinical Medicine. 10 (7): 1542. doi:10.3390/jcm10071542. ISSN 2077-0383.
  17. Scheibenbogen, Carmen; Freitag, Helma; Blanco, Julià; Capelli, Enrica; Lacerda, Eliana; Authier, Jerome; Meeus, Mira; Castro Marrero, Jesus; Nora-Krukle, Zaiga; Oltra, Elisa; Bolle Strand, Elin; Shikova, Evelina; Sekulic, Slobodan; Murovska, Modra (2017). "The European ME/CFS Biomarker Landscape project: an initiative of the European network EUROMENE". Journal of Translational Medicine. 15: 162. doi:10.1186/s12967-017-1263-z.