Dr Eliana Mattos Lacerda

Clinical Assistant Professor

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Biography

Presentation Title: Research on immunological biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract: 

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease whose pathophysiology, involves dysfunctional activities on the immune, neurologic, neuro-endocrine, autonomic, and circulatory systems. Although some potential biomarkers have been proposed for diagnosis and prognosis, the diagnostic of ME/CFS is still based on the clinical presentations.

The CureME research group, at the LSHTM, has established a well characterised cohort of people with ME/CFS, who have consented to donate data and blood samples to the disease-specific UK ME/CFS Biobank (UKMEB). This research facility enabled us to carry out clinical and immunologic studies on this disease. Our results so far, indicate that the virus infections – particularly herpesviruses, are related with an altered immune response that triggers additional systemic abnormal functioning, particularly on those severe disease presentations. Ongoing longitudinal studies may clarify the course of events on the ME/CFS pathophysiology.

Speaker Bio:

I am a Clinical Associate Professor at the LSHTM, with post-graduation in Public Health and PhD in Environmental Health. I am also one of the founders of the CureME research team – dedicated to ME/CFS research, within the Clinical Research Department/Faculty of Infectious. I co-authored the UK ME/CFS Biobank (UKMEB) project, which the first European disease-specific research facility, dedicated to improving biomedical research in this field.

I have been the Vice-Chair of EUROMENE (European Network for ME/CFS) involving twenty-two European countries, to advance research and health care-provision for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and other complex post-infection fatigue syndromes.