§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What definitive research the Department of Health has commissioned into the physical causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME); and what plans it has to commission such research. [HL3277]
§ Baroness HaymanThe main Government agency for funding research into the causes and pathogenesis of health problems is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Trade and Industry.
The MRC is funding one study which is about to be completed at the University of Manchester entitled The role of noradrenaline in the neuropsychological pathogenesis of the chronic fatigue syndrome. The MRC also supports a considerable amount of basic research that would underpin any search for the pathophysiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis.
The Department of Health has not commissioned any research in this area, and has no present plans to do so. We are however working with the Linbury Trust on issues related to the treatment and management of the problem.