For Researchers

ANZMES Grant and Scholarship Programme

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

ANZMES, Aotearoa’s national advisory for ME/CFS, is pleased to offer a Grant and Scholarship Programme for Postgraduate students and academic researchers.

ANZMES is supporting research into ME/CFS and long COVID with this new yearly funding programme.

This year two Grants valued up to $25,000 are available, and four $5,000 Scholarships.

Research is for ME/CFS or ME/CFS AND long COVID. ANZMES does not fund research solely on long COVID or COVID-19 infection. Research must include ME/CFS.

Please view the Regulations here:

• Grant Regulations
• Scholarship Regulations
• Application Form (downloadable in Word, Pdf, or use editable Google doc).
• Research needed
• Past Successful Applicants

If you meet the regulations and would like to submit an application, please fill in the form and return it by email to research@anzmes.org.nz by the due date listed above.

Read the more info here.

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Grant Regulations

Scope

An Award for domestic postgraduate students or academic researchers in the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Faculty of Sport and Exercise Science who are conducting study/research on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) or ME/CFS and Long COVID.

About the Grant

Application status: CLOSED

• Opening date: 31 May 2024
• Closing date: 31 July 2024
• Tenure: One year
• For: Assistance with laboratory research/study
• Number on offer: Two
• Offer rate: Annual
• Value: up to $25,000

The Award was established in 2023 and is financed by Associated New Zealand ME Society Incorporated.

The main purpose of the Award is to contribute towards the costs of laboratory analysis for a student involved in a research project on ME/CFS or ME/CFS and Long COVID who is studying towards a postgraduate degree in the Faculty of Science, Medical and Health Sciences, Public Health, Health, or Sport & Exercise Science who can demonstrate project cost requirements. Or an academic researcher involved in a research project on the same topics in the same faculties.

Selection Process

The Scholarship is awarded by ANZMES on the recommendation of their Scholarships Subcommittee.

Regulations

1. The Grant shall be known as the ANZMES Postgraduate Grant.
2. The Grant shall be awarded by the Associated NZ ME Society Inc on recommendations by their Scholarships Subcommittee.
3. The Grant will comprise a reward up to $25,000.
4. Two of these Grants are available annually.
5. ANZMES is not obliged to make an award if it is determined there is no candidate that meets the criteria and/or no candidate of sufficient merit.
6. The Grant is a one-off payment made during the year of application.
7. The Grant is made payable to the university for the outlined research costs and must be used explicitly for the prescribed research.
8. A signed donation agreement between ANZMES and the university is required for payment to be made.
9. The Grant is tenable by students who are citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand, enrolled as domestic students, at a recognised university OR by academic researchers, residing in New Zealand and employed by a recognised university. 
10. The Grant is offered annually to students who meet all the requirements of these regulations and are enrolled (full-time or part-time) in postgraduate study in one of the following: Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Health, or Faculty of Exercise & Sport Science, OR to academic researchers who meet all the requirements of these regulations and are employed in one of the above mentioned Faculties.
11. Previously successful applicants may apply annually.
12. The basis of selection will be on relevance of the proposed study to ME/CFS or ME/CFS and Long COVID, academic record of excellent standing, backing for the project (such as supervisor endorsement).
13. When a student or academic researcher, through withdrawal or failure to meet any programme requirements, is no longer eligible to pursue the programme of study for which the Grant has been offered, the Grant will be terminated. Any funds not used must be returned to ANZMES.
14. A Grant may be terminated on receipt of a report of unsatisfactory academic progress from the student’s direct supervisor and/or Head of Department or School. 
15. ANZMES must be acknowledged as a Grant funder in any relevant reports or journal articles with full texts relevant to this research, and receive progress reports relating to the research developments.
16. There is an expectation that the Grant recipient adds a sentence to their auto-signature for outgoing email relevant to the research, that stipulates that they are a recipient of the ANZMES Postgraduate Grant.
17. ANZMES reserves the right to use the Grant recipient’s name and image in promotions about this programme and in marketing campaigns related to research for ME/CFS or ME/CFS and long COVID.
18. ANZMES can amend or vary these regulations provided that there is no departure from the main purpose of the Grant.

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Scholarship Regulations

Scope

An Award to provide financial assistance to domestic postgraduate students in the Faculty of  Health Sciences, Public Health, or Humanities/Social Sciences who are conducting study/research on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) or ME/CFS and Long COVID.

About the Scholarship

Application status: CLOSED

Applicable study: Postgraduate degree in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Public Health, Humanities/Social Sciences

• Opening date: 31 May 2024
• Closing date: 31 July 2024
• Tenure: One year
• For: Assistance with study expenses
• Number on offer: Four
• Offer rate: Annual
• Value: Up to $5,000

The Award was established in 2023 and is financed by Associated New Zealand ME Society Incorporated.

The main purpose of the Award is to contribute towards the study expenses of a student studying for a postgraduate degree in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Public Health, Humanities/Social Sciences who can demonstrate financial project cost requirements.

Selection Process

The Scholarship is awarded by ANZMES on the recommendation of their Scholarships Subcommittee.

Regulations

1. The Scholarship shall be known as the ANZMES Postgraduate Scholarship.
2. The Scholarship shall be awarded by the Associated NZ ME Society Inc on recommendations by their Scholarships Subcommittee.
3. ANZMES is not obliged to make an award if it is determined there is no candidate that meets the criteria and/or no candidate of sufficient merit.
4. The Scholarship will comprise a stipend of up to $5,000.
5. Four Scholarships are available annually.
6. The Scholarship is a one-off payment made during the year of application.
7. The Scholarship is made payable to the student to be used for the prescribed costs. A signed donation agreement between ANZMES and the student is required for payment to be made.
8. The Scholarship is tenable by students who are citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand, enrolled as domestic students, at a recognised university.
9. The Scholarship is offered annually to students who meet all the requirements of these regulations and are enrolled (full-time or part-time) in postgraduate study in one of the following: Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Humanities/Social Sciences.
10. Applicants, including previously successful applicants, may apply annually.
11. The basis of selection will be on relevance of the proposed study to ME/CFS or ME/CFS and Long COVID, academic record of excellent standing, backing for the project (such as supervisor endorsement).
12. When a student, through withdrawal or failure to meet any programme requirements, is no longer eligible to pursue the programme of study for which the Grant has been offered, the Grant will be terminated. Funds must be returned to ANZMES. A Scholarship may be terminated on receipt of a report of unsatisfactory academic progress from the student’s direct supervisor, and/or Head of Department or School. 
13. ANZMES must be acknowledged as a Scholarship funder in any relevant reports or journal articles with full texts relevant to this research, and receive progress reports relating to the research developments.
14. There is an expectation that the Scholarship recipient adds a sentence to their auto-signature for outgoing email relevant to the research, that stipulates that they are a recipient of the ANZMES Postgraduate Scholarship.
15. ANZMES reserves the right to use the Scholarship recipient’s name and image in promotions about this programme and in marketing campaigns related to research for ME/CFS or ME/CFS and long COVID.
16. ANZMES can amend or vary these regulations provided that there is no departure from the main purpose of the Scholarship.

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Application Form

Please ensure you met all regulations before applying by the closing date. To submit, send this form to research@anzmes.org.nz

Google DOCS EDITABLE

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Research needed

The ANZMES Grant and Scholarships Subcommittee will consider all serious applications for ME/CFS or ME/CFS and long COVID research projects.

Currently prevalence of ME/CFS in Aotearoa/New Zealand is estimated using overseas data and pro rated to population. We believe obtaining accurate, up to date prevalence data here in NZ is of paramount importance.

Likewise, establishing a breakdown of demographics for the people living with ME/CFS here in NZ would be beneficial – knowing percentages of European, Māori, Pasifika, Asian, African, and other ethnicities – to understand who gets ME/CFS, who seeks a diagnosis, who is missing out on a diagnosis and whether there are cultural differences in understanding of the condition and access to healthcare.

A study of how Māori and Pasifika populations manage ME/CFS and other fatiguing illnesses within families and communities, would help inform health initiatives and programmes.

We know that equity of access to healthcare is an issue in NZ for specific groups, and it is also a problem for people with ME/CFS due to the inconsistent eligibility criteria for various services across the different agencies. A study that looks at what those criteria and services are, and what specific comparable illnesses are that do get access to services, would help ANZMES to demonstrate to government, the inadequate care currently experienced.

The lived experience is important, to understand what people with ME face on a daily basis, be it in social settings, the workplace, or at home. This can include needs and requirements to function and carry out activities, symptom management techniques that do and don’t work for this highly individualised illness, attitudes and expectations from others, acceptance and grief, barriers to inclusion and more.

Functional Capacity is worth exploring. Recently a Questionnaire was produced and discussed at the latest Invest in ME Conference (IIMEC15) with clinical trials due to commence using it to classify the level of functioning in people with ME/CFS. An Aotearoa/New Zealand based trial using this Questionnaire as an outcome marker is vital. If it has high validity and reliability at measuring functional capacity, it could potentially we used by agencies to understand capacity for work, activities, and needs assessment for home help services.

Misunderstanding about the disease, compounded by flawed, low quality studies (conducted in the past with diagnostic criteria that ignored the cardinal characteristic – PEM), and out of date opinions, continues to plague the medical profession’s management of ME/CFS. More evidence of bio-physiological dysfunction, malfunction, and abnormalities is required to counter the erroneous claims that ME/CFS is psychological. The more quality quantitative biomedical research that is produced in NZ and globally that demonstrates the broken bodily systems clearly and concisely, the easier it will be to educate and update existing health professionals, medical students, and medical advisors to relevant agencies about the profoundly debilitating disease.

Equally important is finding out what bodily system dysfunctions are target-able, and which specific therapeutics will work to reverse or manage these abnormalities.

2024 Grant Recipients

In 2024, one New Zealand Grant and two Scholarships were awarded.

• The Grant was awarded to Associate Professor Mona Jeffreys and PhD candidate Kahurangi Dey for $25,000 to undertake research to quantify the prevalence of food insecurity for people living with ME/CFS and long COVID. This research will also contribute to the creation of an ME/CFS Registry in New Zealand.
• Postgraduate student Melissa Blanc received a $5,000 Scholarship for a systematic review to evaluate the safety and efficacy of exercise programmes for ME/CFS patients.
• Beth Hobbs, a registered Health Psychology intern, has a placement with ME/CFS Canterbury for a project focusing on the impact of long-term illness, and psychological support to improve patient outcomes, with a particular emphasis on housebound patients.

Past Successful Applicants

2023 Grant Recipients

ANZMES is proud to have funded many research projects in the past. Here is a sample of past projects carried out by successful applicants.

Dr. Nicholas Bowden, Research Fellow, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Otago

Current research:

Dr. Nicholas Bowden’s study will investigate the health, labour market, and social service use of people with ME, in NZ, through a population study.

https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/fatigue-study-uses-population-data

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Dr. Lynette Hodges, Senior Lecturer School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Current research:

Dr. Lynette Hodges study will investigate activity and energy management and the hallmark symptom post-exertional malaise (PEM), in people with ME through an observational study that assesses exertion during normal daily activities of living, such as doing dishes or
laundry.

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Emeritus Professor Warren Tate, biochemist, University of Otago

Completed: analysis and preparing for publication:

1. Post exertional malaise ME/CFS patients vs healthy controls
   A 2-session exercise protocol measuring cardiopulmonary physiology (with Dr. Lynette
   Hodges), and mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, immune cell proteins, DNA
   methylome epigenetic code before 24h, and 48h after first exercise session.
2. Comparison of Immune cell dysregulation and dysregulated epigenetic code
   between ME/CFS and Long COVID patients and healthy controls.
   Pilot study with 5 ME/CFS patients, 5 Long COVID patients and 5 healthy controls
   Immune cell protein changes and DNA methylome epigenetic code changes.

In planning stage:

1. Three month trial of an anti-neuroinflammatory dahlia flower extract in 30 ME/CFS
   and 30 Long COVID patients with controls to determine effect on disease
   symptoms.
2. Longitudinal study of molecular changes in Long COVID patients.
3. Long term molecular effects of adverse reaction to Pfizer COVID19 vaccination.
4. Developing a diagnostic test for ME/CFS based on cell free DNA released from fragile immune cells utilising the DNA methylome signatures.

Published works:

1. Walker, MOM, Peppercorn K, Kleffmann T, Edgar CD, Tate WP (2023) An
   understanding of the immune dysfunction in susceptible people who develop post
   viral fatigue syndromes Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
   Long COVID Medical Research Archives (accepted June 2nd)
2. Tate WP, Walker, MOM, Peppercorn K, Blair ALH, Edgar CD. (2023) Towards a
   better understanding of the complexities of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic
   Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 5124.
   https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065124.
3. Helliwell AM, Stockwell PA, Edgar CD, Chatterjee A, Tate WP. (2022) Dynamic
   epigenetic changes during a relapse and recovery Cycle in Myalgic
   Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23,11852.
   https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911852.
4. Walker MOM, Hall KH, Peppercorn K, Tate WP. (2022) The significance of
   oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of Long COVID and Myalgic
   Encephalomyelitis/ChronicFatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Medical Research
   Archives,[online] 10(9). https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v10i9.3050.
5. Tate W, Walker M, Sweetman E, Helliwell, A, Peppercorn K, Edgar C, Blair A,
   Chatterjee, A (2022) Molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation in ME/CFS and
   Long COVID to sustain disease and promote relapses Frontiers in Neurology
   13:877772.doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.877772\.
6. Wood, E., Hall, K & Tate W (2021) Role of mitochondria, oxidative stress and the
   response to antioxidants in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A
   possible approach to SARS-CoV-2 ‘long-haulers’? Chronic Disease and
   Translational Medicine 7: 14- 26, doi.org/10.1016/j.cdtm.2020.11.02.
7. Sweetman, E., Kleffmann, T., Edgar, C., deLange, M., Vallings, R. & Tate W
   (2020) A SWATH-MS analysis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue
   Syndrome peripheral blood mononuclear cell proteomes reveals mitochondrial
   dysfunction Journal of Translational Medicine 18:365, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-
   020-02533-3
8. Helliwell, A., Sweetman E., Stockwell, P., Edgar, C, Chatterjee, A & Tate W.
   (2020) Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic
   fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions. Clinical Epigenetics 12: 167,
   doi.org/10.1186/s13148-020-00960-z
   9.Sweetman E, Noble A, Edgar C, Mackay, A, Helliwell A, Vallings, R., Ryan M, Tate,
   W (2019) Current research provides insight into the biological basis and diagnostic
   potential for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
   Diagnostics 9: 80-100
9. Sweetman E., Ryan, M., Edgar C., Mackay, A., Vallings, R., Tate, W. (2019)
   Changes in the transcriptome of circulating cells of a New Zealand cohort with
   myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome. International Journal of
   Immunopathology and Pharmacology 33, 1-8.

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Dr. Anna Brooks, senior lecturer, University of Auckland

Current research:

The purpose of this study is to better understand the immune dysregulation (immune cell changes/function and immune proteins) and the misfired immune response which can occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), leading to the onset of Long COVID.  The study aims to track immune cells and inflammatory proteins within the blood of COVID-19 survivors and to track how these markers change in response to COVID-19 vaccination. Given the similarities of Long COVID to ME/CFS, we also aim to include participants living with ME/CFS and also  track their vaccine responses. We will be monitoring immune cell function and changes while also tracking proteins in the blood with the aim of identifying biomarkers.

ANZMES sponsors NZ Long COVID + ME research

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ANZMES also funds projects that further the education of people living with ME/CFS and long COVID and their families and health professionals.
ANZMES contributed funding to ME Support’s long COVID tool for people with this condition, which includes vital information about the management of ME/CFS.

ANZMES produces quality CME-accredited education and events for health professionals. Such as Know M.E. – the video podcast and news series (launched April 2023) and the long COVID event (November 2022) that featured presentations from experts on diagnosis, management, research findings, and more.