National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases

The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Disease (NCNED) is an Australian research group led by Professors Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik and Donald Staines.

The NCNED is a part of Menzies Health Institute Queensland at Griffith University in south-east Queensland, Australia.

Members

In addition to co-directors Professors Marshall-Gradisnik and Staines, full members of the NCNED are:

• Dr Leighton Barnden
• Dr Hélène Cabanas
• Dr Alfred Lam
• Dr Donald Stewart

Potential biomarker

In February 2016 the research team led by Profs. Staines and Marshall-Gradisnik announced it had created a diagnostic test for the disease using CD8 T cells. The researchers have submitted patent claims in relation to their discovery.

Professor Marshall-Gradisnik clarified: "In response to a number of inquiries of this nature we are pleased to advise that we have both published papers, papers in press, and additional data not for publication, which constitutes commercial-in-confidence".

Notable studies

• May 2019, Validation of impaired Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 ion channel activity in natural killer cells from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients (Full text)
• Aug 2018, Loss of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 ion channel function in natural killer cells from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients (Full text)
• May 2016, Novel identification and characterisation of Transient receptor potential melastatin 3 ion channels on Natural Killer cells and B lymphocytes: effects on cell signalling in Chronic fatigue syndrome/Myalgic encephalomyelitis patients (Full text)
• Apr 2016, ERK1/2, MEK1/2 and p38 downstream signalling molecules impaired in CD56dimCD16+ and CD56brightCD16dim/− natural killer cells in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients (Full text)
• Jan 2016, Genotype Frequencies of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin M3 Ion Channels and Acetylcholine Muscarinic M3 Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Patients Genotype Frequencies of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin M3 Ion Channels and Acetylcholine Muscarinic M3 Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Patients (Full text)
• Dec 2015, A Preliminary Comparative Assessment of the Role of CD8+ T Cells in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis (Full text)
• Dec 2015, Pilot Study of Natural Killer Cells in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis (Abstract)
• Sep 2015, Serum Immune Proteins in Moderate and Severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Patients, Int J Med Sci, 2015; 12(10): 764–772.
• Aug 2015, Longitudinal analysis of immune abnormalities in varying severities of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients, Journal of Translatqional Medicine, 201513:299
  • Conclusions: Severe CFS/ME patients differed from controls and moderate CFS/ME patients over time and expressed significant alterations in iNKT cell phenotypes, CD8+T cell markers, NK cell receptors and γδT cells at 6 months.
• May 2015 - Characterisation of cell functions and receptors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), BMC Immunology, 2015 16:35
• May 2015 - Examination of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Acetylcholine Receptors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients, Immunology and Immunogenetics Insights, 2015:7 7-20. (small study - 115 people with ME/CFS)
• May 2015 - Examination of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Ion Channels in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients (small study - 115 people with ME/CFS)
• Apr 2014 - A comparison of health status in patients meeting alternative definitions for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2014 12:64
  • Results: Patients fulfilling the ICC definition reported significantly lower scores (p < 0.05) for physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, and social functioning than those that only fulfilled the 1994 CDC definition. ICC patients reported significantly greater (p < 0.05) disability across all domains of the WHO DAS 2.0.

Funding

The NCNED is supported by the Queensland Government and philanthropic donors. In 2016, Professors Marshall-Gradisnik and Staines and Dr Samantha Johnston were awarded $4 million (AUS) from the Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation to accelerate the diagnosis of CFS and the discovery of appropriate treatments. The grant follows on a previous round of funding ($2.5 million) from the same foundation.

Online presence

• Facebook
• Twitter - Griffith Health
• Website - Griffith Health
• Website - NCNED
• YouTube - CFS Myths 1, 2, and 3 via Stuart North's playlist of Griffith University's videos.

• Institution
• Twitter

Learn more

• Feb 29, 2016, Australian scientists make breakthrough in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome testing, ABC News (Australia)
• Mar 1, 2016, Screening test for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on its way, Griffith University

See also

• Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
• Professor Donald Staines
• Dr. Peter Smith
• Dr. Richard Kwiatek
• Dr. Hélène Cabanas
• TRPM3
• Diagnostic biomarker

T cell A type of white blood cell which is mostly produced or matured in the thymus gland (hence T-cell) and is involved in the adaptive immune response on a cellular level. Also known as a T lymphocyte. (Learn more: www.youtube.com)

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.

See ME/CFS.

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

International Consensus Criteria (ICC) - A set of diagnostic criteria, based on the Canadian Consensus Criteria, that argued for the abandonment of the term "chronic fatigue syndrome" and encouraged the sole use of the term "myalgic encephalomyelitis".

See International Consensus Criteria.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a U.S. government agency dedicated to epidemiology and public health. It operates under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services.

See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

World Health Organization (WHO) - "A specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organization, was an agency of the League of Nations." The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is maintained by WHO.

See World Health Organization.