New research effort into causes of chronic fatigue syndrome
Part of the new Chronic Fatigue Initiative, the research program will
leverage the Center for Infection and Immunity's expertise in microbe
hunting to shed light on possible infectious causes of the mysterious
disorder
September 27, 2011 --The Chronic Fatigue Initiative (CFI) =97 a new
privately funded research directive focused on chronic fatigue
syndrome =97 announced a substantial grant to a Columbia University
research team to investigate the role of pathogens in causing chronic
fatigue syndrome. The pathogen discovery and pathogenesis program will
be led by Drs. Ian Lipkin and Mady Hornig of the Center for Infection
and Immunity.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition believed to affect about
1million Americans. It is characterized by symptoms similar to those
of common viral infections and can include muscle aches, headache and
extreme fatigue. Its cause is unknown, and currently there is no cure.
Established by a donation of more than $10 million from the Hutchins
Family Foundation, the Chronic Fatigue Initiative will bring together
medical experts from the world's leading research institutions,
including Columbia, Harvard, Stanford and Duke Universities. The
Initiative's initial phase of funding includes support for
pathogenesis research at the Center for Infection and Immunity, and
for NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center,
where it will establish the Hutchins Family Fellowship in Infectious
Disease under the direction of Dr. Scott Hammer, professor of
epidemiology and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia.
"Dr. Hornig was the prime mover in designing the research plan and
will be shepherding the CFI's research at the Center for Infection and
Immunity," said Dr. Lipkin, the director of CII.
Dr. Hornig, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman
School of Public Health and director of Translational Research at CII,
will direct research on biomarkers and pathogen discovery for the
Chronic Fatigue Initiative. The research will focus on characterizing
the causes of this enigmatic disorder.
Scientists will examine samples from 200 patients and controls using
state-of-the-art molecular techniques pioneered at CII. Patients will
be recruited across the country from five clinical sites that
specialize in chronic fatigue syndrome.
During the first part of the project, they will screen for already
known pathogens thought to be associated with the disease. Then they
will use unbiased genetic sequencing to help them identify any novel
pathogens. CII scientists will also look at patients' host response
profiles =97 the immune molecule and antibody signatures in their
peripheral blood samples. This will enable researchers to get a
comprehensive picture of what is happening in individual patients in
relation to pathogens to which they may have been exposed and could
lead to the identification of biomarkers for CFS.
Drs. Lipkin and Hornig will also collaborate with Dr. Scott M. Hammer
and the inaugural Hutchins Family Fellow for Infectious Disease at
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia =97 Dr. Claire Gordon.
"This is a truly exciting opportunity to understand the causes of this
often neglected disorder," said Dr. Hornig. "We hope our findings will
lead to better diagnoses and the development of an effective
treatment."
###
About Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
Founded in 1922 as one of the first three public health academies in
the nation, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
pursues an agenda of research, education, and service to address the
critical and complex public health issues affecting New Yorkers, the
nation and the world. The Mailman School is the third largest
recipient of NIH grants among schools of public health. Its over 300
multi-disciplinary faculty members work in more than 100 countries
around the world, addressing such issues as preventing infectious and
chronic diseases, environmental health, maternal and child health,
health policy, climate change & health, and public health
preparedness. It is a leader in public health education with over
1,000 graduate students from more than 40 nations pursuing a variety
of master's and doctoral degree programs. The Mailman School is also
home to numerous world-renowned research centers including the
International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP), the
National Center for Disaster Preparedness, and the Center for
Infection and Immunity. For more information, please visit
www.mailman.columbia.edu
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