As we step into 2025, we reflect on the remarkable progress made in 2024. We’re deeply grateful for the support you’ve shown. Thanks to you, our community, we’ve made significant strides in advancing the understanding and treatment of ME/CFS and Long COVID.
In 2024, we achieved some major milestones, and with your continued involvement, we are excited to build on this momentum in the year ahead.
Fundraising Milestones
- Over $5.5M Raised in 2024: Thanks to the OMF community, 2024 was another successful year for accelerating research and medical education, adding to the more than $55M raised overall since 2012.
- Triple Giving November: More than $1.8M was raised through our annual Triple Giving November Campaign from the OMF Community and Leadership Donors.
- Physics Girl Fundraiser: Dianna Cowern, known as Physics Girl, hosted a “day in the life” livestream about living with ME/CFS and Long COVID. Organized by her husband and YouTube colleagues, the event raised over $150,000 for OMF research. If you missed the event, you can still watch it here.
- BioQuest Funding: With two generous grants and additional funds from the OMF community, we secured $950,000—40% of our goal—to launch a large-scale ME/CFS biomarker study, BioQuest!
Research Milestones
- The Life Improvement Trial (LIFT) Launched: Recruitment and screening started in August 2024, and the first participants were enrolled in September. Learn more here.
- BioQuest Announced: This groundbreaking large-scale biomarker study aims to identify a biochemical signature for ME/CFS that can be conveniently evaluated through a blood test and would differentiate ME/CFS from other similar conditions. Learn more here.
- OMF StudyME Registry Growth: Launched in 2023, OMF’s StudyME Registry connects individuals eager to participate in research studies with the researchers conducting them. Today, StudyME has enrolled over 11,000 participants and is recruiting for 13 studies.
- Research Interviews: OMF’s Vice President of Research, Danielle Meadows, PhD, recently interviewed each of our Directors to provide updates on one of their ongoing projects:
- David Systrom, MD – A Muscle Biopsy Study to Understand the Molecular Mechanisms of PEM
- Alain Moreau, PhD – Deep Proteome and Metabolome Profiling to Decode Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (DOMINO-ME)
- Jonas Bergquist, MD, PhD – Assessing Neuroinflammatory Involvement in ME/CFS via MRI and PET
- Chris Armstrong, PhD – Linking Brain Blood Flow, Neuroinflammation, Metabolism, and Hormones in ME/CFS, POTS, and Long COVID
- Ron Davis, PhD – Neutrophil Assessment Platform
- Wenzhong Xiao, PhD – Computation Approaches: Traditional Data Analysis and Knowledge-Based Network Analysis
OMF supported over 35 active research projects across our collaborative research centers, each holding the potential to make a significant impact in advancing our understanding of ME/CFS and Long COVID. OMF funded 6 scientific publications and 3 preprints in 2024, further expanding the global body of knowledge about ME/CFS and Long COVID.
Medical Education Milestones
In 2024, the OMF-supported Medical Education Resource Center (MERC) at Bateman Horne Center (BHC) experienced unprecedented growth and impact, solidifying its position as a global leader in ME/CFS and Long COVID education.
- The OMF-Supported Medical Education Resource Center (MERC) trained 13,424 healthcare providers across 46 states and 89 countries.
- Collaborations with Medscape, VuMedi, and other outlets have allowed MERC to embed lectures and provide enduring CME (Continuing Medical Education), reaching clinicians at the source of where they seek education.
- MERC successfully delivered 47 lectures and 5 accredited CME.
- MERC educated medical students, residents, fellows, and practicing clinicians across 29 disciplines.
- The video series “Basic Series” was released:
As we look back on our achievements in 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the progress we’ve made. But the work isn’t done yet—2025 is poised to be another year of groundbreaking discoveries and impactful change. With your continued support, we will keep moving forward in pursuit of a brighter, healthier future for all.
Donate your appreciated stock directly to OMF and you can receive an immediate income-tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities on the date of transfer (even if you originally paid much less for them).