§ Mr. LepperTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the(a) terms of reference and (b) timetable for the independent scientific advisory group of the Medical Research Council on CFS and ME due to be set up in spring 2002; and who the members of the group are. [68079]
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§ Mr. LammyThe Medical Research Council (MRC) have now agreed to set up an advisory group. Their final report should be made available early in 2003.
The proposed terms of reference are:
to consider the report of the independent working party on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), including its recommendations for research;to consider other recent reviews of current knowledge and understanding of CFS/ME;to take account of patient and lay perspectives;to recommend to MRC a research strategy to advance understanding of the aetiology, epidemiology and biology of CFS/ME; andin the light of current knowledge, suggest what areas of further research are needed with regard to possible treatments.The group members are:
- Professor Nancy Rothwell (Chair)
- Professor Janet Darbyshire
- Professor Diana Elbourne
- Professor Alan McGregor
- Professor Jonathan Weber
- Professor Jackie Oldham
- Professor Til Wykes
- Professor Philip Cowen
- Professor Jon Nicholl
- Jacqueline Apperly
- Sue Haselhurst
- Observer Department of Health.