Bateman Horne Center internist and paediatrician, Dr Melanie Hoppers, has always been driven to approach her patients’ treatment with a holistic strategy, combining first line medicines with lifestyle, diet, stress reduction and movement.  But in 2015, when her daughter became sick with ME/CFS, it became an even more personal mission to understand, treat and create frameworks to assist people with chronic illness.

Under the guidance of Dr Lucinda Bateman, and drawing on the expertise of her colleagues at the Bateman Horne Center, Dr Hoppers has ploughed her energy into helping patients to understand their conditions and their bodies, employing FDA approved drugs with lifestyle measures to make gains in their health and mitigate crashes.

In this week’s episode Dr Hoppers talks through her primary strategies for pacing and managing post-exertional malaise (PEM) to enable patients to regain some control over their illness.  Drawing on her personal experiences with her daughter, along with treating hundreds of people in-person and through telehealth, she shares her ideas and resources that people can use at home – from monitoring your morning heart rate, to documenting symptom flares and activities, this episode is packed full of real life strategies to help understand and monitor your illness, and advocate for yourself with healthcare professionals and family members.

We also discuss the Bateman Horne Center’s Clinical Care Guide offering advice to patients and healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, Long Covid, IACCs and the multiple co-morbidities that make these conditions inherently complex:

Bateman Horne Center Clinical Care Guide

Further BHC Resources for patients and professionals:

Crash Survival Guide: practical strategies to manage PEM and prevent crashes

Brief Educational videos:

NASA Lean Test Instructions

ER and Urgent Care Considerations for ME/CFS

A Mother’s Perspective – Dr Melanie Hoppers advocating for children, and advice for other parents

Analysis of wearable data gathered from the Visible app found that symptoms in Long Covid and ME/CFS fluctuated considerably in-line with the menstrual cycle, in a new study from Imperial College (currently in pre-print).

In this week’s episode Abigail Goodship, a biomedical scientist at Imperial College, responsible for scrutinizing the data from almost 4000 women, talks us through the findings of the study, which corroborates something which women have been anecdotally reporting for years, and gives us insights into how we might be able to manipulate hormones and work with our cycles to live a more balanced illness.

The points at which the immune and endocrine systems interact are complex and multi-layered with the hypothalamus, pituitary glands and ovaries all playing different roles in the functioning of our cycles. Emily Kate Stephens and Abigail take it back to basics, discussing the hormones involved and the way in which they shape the menstrual cycle, before diving into what the research teaches us about symptom variability which tends to worsen in the pre-menstrual phase and improve around ovulation. Understanding the hormones at play at these points, and the impact they have on our immune systems, inflammation levels and pain perception will be key to using this information to develop helpful strategies and potential treatments.

We discuss the potential implications of pregnancy, vaccination, contraception, menopause and HRT in Long Covid and ME/CFS, along with the role of hormones in autoimmune conditions, as areas that are ripe for more substantial research in this much under-researched area of menstrual health.

Abigail Goodship is a first year PhD student in the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction at Imperial College London. Under the supervision of Dr Viki Male and Dr Bryn Owen, Abigail is researching the fascinating intersection of immunology and reproductive endocrinology, with a focus on how the immune system influences the menstrual cycle. Her work combines laboratory techniques like cytokine assays and hormone profiling with big data analysis, aiming to better understand menstrual changes after vaccination and the impact of chronic immune dysregulation on reproductive health. Drawing on expertise across both biological and computational sciences, Abigail is dedicated to bridging disciplines to advance women’s health, with a focus on translating research into meaningful, real-world impact. Her work is funded by the Medical Research Council (grant number MR/W00710X/1).

Further references from this conversation:

Menstruation as an inflammatory event

The effect of ovarian hormones on rheumatoid arthritis

Oestrogen and Progesterone in rheumatoid conditions

Oestrogen in COVID-19

HRT in actute COVID-19

Impact of COVID vaccines on fertility

Menstrual cycle and COVID vaccination & retrospective analysis

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The Open Medicine Foundation is the world’s largest non-profit aimed at diagnosing, treating and preventing complex chronic disease.

This week, founder and CEO Linda Tannenbaum joins Emily Kate Stephens to discuss the OMF’s work, delivering collaborative research from some of the world’s leading scientists, and offering hope to millions.

Now with six specialised centers operating out of leading institutions, from the ME/CFS Collaborative Research Center at Stanford to Harvard, to the University of Melbourne, Tannenbaum has overseen more than 68 projects to try and understand these life-changing conditions.  In today’s episode she explains the way in which the OMF was launched, in collaboration with the formidable Dr. Ron Davis, bringing together hundreds of scientists, across a huge range of specialities to try to create a multi-system framework to look at these multi-system diseases.

And Tannenbaum discusses the details of the most recent studies and trials, including TREAT ME (patient-reported outcomes from 4,000+ participants), Bio Quest (AI-powered biomarker discovery), and the first OMF double blind placebo controlled trial LIFT – a groundbreaking study looking at the efficacy of LDN and Mestinon.

From leveraging AI to hosting global research summits, the OMF is committed to bringing awareness, research and treatments to those suffering from chronic complex diseases, and whilst the ultimate goal is to find a cure for ME/CFS, in the interim they are working to improve the lives of patients through better understanding and management of the condition.

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What is the threshold over which PEM is induced in chronic illness? This is a hugely important question for sufferers, and one for which Rob Wüst is trying to find an answer.

Assistant Professor in Musculoskeletal Health and Physiology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Dr. Rob Wüst is able to see the physiological impact of Long Covid and ME/CFS in skeletal muscle abnormalities.

In his latest study (currently in preprint) he finds that “Skeletal muscle properties in long COVID and ME/CFS differ from those induced by bed rest”,  and the abnormalities that he observes in the muscles of this cohort of patients correlate with the Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM), autonomic dysfunction and wearable data that he gathered in another recent study.

In this week’s episode Wüst explains to Emily Kate Stephens how he observed exercise-induced worsening of symptoms in almost half of Long Covid patients when they exceeded their ‘ventilatory threshold’ but the much of the time this is from everyday activities such as hanging the laundry or carrying the groceries.  But they discus

He discusses the physiological clues emerging from exercise testing and muscle biopsies in patients when viewed alongside wearable data and expounds on the circulating theories on this, including mitochondrial dysfunction, local hypoxia, and ion channel abnormalities.  And he explores the parallels and distinctions between Long Covid and ME/CFS and why interdisciplinary collaboration is vital to unlock these complex, multi-systemic diseases.

The Impact of Bedrest Study 2024

Skeletal muscle adaptations and PEM in LC 2024

Should we be careful with exercise in PEM in LC? 2025

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This week’s episode takes us on an exploration of the exciting work coming out of M.I.T’s Biological Engineering teams into understanding infection-associated illnesses and the emerging field of menstruation science.

Emily Kate Stephens is joined by Dr Michal Caspi Tal, Principal Scientist of the Tal Research Group and Associate Scientific Director at the Center for Gynepathology Research. She is responsible for innovative research seeking answers about the the overlap between infection, immune dysregulation, and chronic illness; alongside working to break menstrual taboos, creating a scientific framework for understanding the implications of the female reproductive system on our health and our sickness

Her lab has launched MIT MAESTRO study, a groundbreaking research initiative using leading edge technology, aimed at uncovering the links between infection-associated illness, immune dysregulation and mitochondrial dysfunction, juxtaposing Long Covid against acute and Chronic Lyme. The team study the way in which pathogens interact with the immune system, genetics, and each other to create overlaps with POTS, MCAS, gynaecological conditions and connective tissue disorders such as hEDS.

The Tal Research Group is working to bridge engineering and biology to fill critical research gaps— particularly around chronic illnesses such as endometriosis, acute and chronic Lyme disease, Long Covid & ME/CFS. Their work is developing predictive diagnostics and illness trajectory maps to help us understand who is at risk of developing infection-associated chronic conditions, and why.

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A new clinical trial is underway to test a monoclonal antibody as a treatment for Long Covid.

In this week’s episode Emily Kate Stephens sits down with Dr Nancy Klimas at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), Florida, to discuss the trial alongside the groundbreaking research and integrative care, that is taking place at the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, looking at Long Covid, ME/CFS and other complex conditions.

The trial, a collaboration between Nova Southeastern University and the Schmidt Initiative for Long Covid, will use an AstraZeneca drug, which is already approved for COVID-19 prevention in those with compromised immunity, on 100 patients in a double-blind, randomised controlled trail. And Dr Klimas, a globally recognized expert in immunology and chronic illness, believes that this has the potential to be a curative treatment for the disease in around 40% of patients.

Alongside this new study, we discuss the role of computational modelling and the progress that AI is having in uncovering hidden patterns in chronic disease; the way in which gender differences shape inflammatory responses and treatment strategies; and the critical importance of restorative sleep, nutrition, and anti-inflammatory approaches in improving the lives of patients.

We discuss some of the other studies in which the INIM are involved – the Reboot Study, Microbiome research, probiotics, and the COVIDUP study, along with the power of international collaboration, the challenges of funding and the amazing contribution of patients.

Dr. Nancy Klimas is Director of the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine at NSU, and a leading voice in translational research focused on chronic illness, ME/CFS, Gulf War Syndrome, and Long Covid. With decades of experience in immunology and clinical science, Dr. Klimas is a champion for an integrative, personalized approach to patient care.

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Data gathered from wearable technology can warn of impending symptom exacerbation in complex chronic illness a new study has found.

In this week’s episode Dr. David Putrino discusses the findings.  He, in collaboration with leading immunologists, microbiologists and data scientists, tracked data points from 5000 Visible app users (who enrolled in the study) to establish that HRV and resting heart rate can be used to predict a crash.  Analyzing more than 55,000 readings over 1000 days they were able to see changes in the autonomic nervous system of contributors using this biometric data.  The largest study of its kind, these findings have the potential to provide the basis for individualised care strategies for this enormous cohort of patients.

Here we discuss the function and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.  Dr. Putrino gives us an overview of heart rate variability, the way in which it fluctuates, what its readings can determine about our health and ways in which these can be influenced. We talk through the power of breathwork including two of Dr Putrino’s studies – on resonant breathing and hypocapnia – showing the way in which breathing impacts our physiology but determining that we have innate power to influence our health.

As Director of Rehabilitation Innovation Mount Sinai Health, Dr. Putrino‘s focus is on real-world solutions for this patient cohort. In a world where new drug approval takes 10 years and technologies in this field can take 17 years to reach market, his aim is to bring patients tangible treatments and protocols in a practical timeframe. Currently involved in clinical trials for rapamycin and vagal nerve stimulation, Dr. Putrino endeavours to re-purpose drugs and technologies that are already approved in other situations to create personalised strategies for this engaged cohort.

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Dr. Theoharis Theoharides ‘The Mast Cell Master’ has been at the forefront of mast cell research for over 30 years. A renowned expert in allergy, neuroinflammation, and mast cell biology, his work centers on understanding the regulation of these critical immune cells. His extensive studies explore their fundamental role in the body, the mechanisms behind their activation and inhibition, and their involvement in a wide range of conditions—from asthma and eczema to neuroinflammatory disorders and complex chronic illnesses.

In this week’s episode, we delve into the role of mast cells in complex chronic disease. Dr. Theoharides explains how mast cells are distributed throughout the body, the various stressors that can activate them, and how their activation may contribute to overlapping symptoms seen in conditions such as migraines and irritable bowel syndrome. The comparisons draw into question whether a degree of mast cell activation is co-morbid in many of these conditions, or indeed whether some of these conditions are a symptom of mast cell activation.

He underscores the urgent need for better diagnostic tools, greater awareness within the medical community, and a broader, more integrative treatment strategy. This includes lifestyle interventions and the use of natural flavonoids, which have been proven to inhibit mast cell activity. Dr. Theoharides also discusses the ongoing challenges in securing research funding and the potential for integrative approaches to address complex conditions – thinking outside the box to treat patients individually, listening to their needs and treating accordingly – which is what he believes they are able to do with his team at NSU

Dr. Theoharides is Executive Director, Center of Excellence for Neuroinflammation Research (CENIR) & Professor, Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine at Nova Southeastern University.  Prior to this he spent four decades at Tufts University where he was Director of Molecular Immunopharmacology & Drug Discovery.

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The U.S.A.’s Centre for Disease Control (C.D.C) ME/CFS program has been working for decades to deepen our understanding of the condition. Their Multi-site Clinical Assessment of ME/CFS (MCAM) study, conducted across seven specialized clinics in the U.S. from 2012 to 2020, provides valuable data that forms the foundation for ongoing research. 

Dr Elizabeth Unger, chief of Chronic Viral Diseases Branch, and epidemiologists Yang Chen and Elizabeth Fall, have contributed to numerous studies exploring various aspects of ME/CFS, from cognitive impacts to looking for biomarkers. In this episode, we focus on their latest paper, which examines the prevalence of Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions (COPCs) that occur in ME/CFS.

Three-quarters of ME/CFS patients suffer from COPCs (defined as: Chronic low back pain; Chronic migraine/Headache; Fibromyaligia; Endometriosis; Interstitial cystitis/Irritable bladder; Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); Temporomandibular disorder (TMD); Vulvodynia) with women being more likely to experience at least one of these co-occurring conditions.  The understanding of why these are so prevalent in ME/CFS is the next piece of the puzzle.

A large portion of this team’s work is educating patients and carers along with healthcare workers.  They are immensely proud of their resources such as their patient tool kit, management strategies and disability advice, tailored to helping patients advocate for themselves and their family members to receive appropriate diagnosis, treatment and care.  Sitting alongside this is a section for healthcare providers where they present a clinical overview to assist in the diagnosis and care, with a toolkit containing many educational and reference resources.

The MCAM data and biospecimens are also available (via application) to other investigators to maximise the impact of this longitudinal study.

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In her latest paper Suzanne Vernon, PhD, Scientific Director at the Bateman Horne Center, reveals that ME/CFS prevalence is now 15 times higher than pre-pandemic estimates.

The study, carried out by the RECOVER initiative, and published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine confirmed that ME/CFS has a 4.5% prevalence among those who did not recover from COVID-19, and forms the most severe subtype of Long Covid.  Whilst not all Long Covid patients will fulfil the criteria for ME/CFS, the ability to study the conditions in parallel and at the point at which they cross over is bringing us unprecedented insights into long term energy-limiting conditions.

In this week’s interview Dr Vernon highlights the challenges in identifying definitive biomarkers for ME/CFS due to its heterogeneity and the fact that there are multiple triggers, but explains how the longitudinal data gathered in the RECOVER study is making roads into understanding the pathogenesis and necessary treatments for ME/CFS.  This is due to one crucial factor: here we are presented with a huge group of ME/CFS patients who have developed the illness from one trigger, SARS-COV2.

Whilst the findings are shocking, and the stark quantity of people with ME/CFS is rising dramatically, Dr Vernon is positive about the way in which we can optimize this moment in time, with the research attention and funding in place, to reveal what is causing ME/CFS and then go on to work out how it can be treated.

Dr Vernon has more than 30 years’ experience in researching chronic illnesses, authoring hundreds of papers on the subject, working with the government and non-profits to move the needle in this research arena.  She is dedicated to understanding what drives conditions such as ME/CFS, whilst advocating for greater involvement amongst the scientific and medical communities.  Formerly the Scientific Director at  Solve ME/CFS Initiative, Dr Vernon is tireless in her bid to advance research, educate and improve care for those impacted by ME/CFS.

Additional references from the episode:

JAMA paper detailing clusters in Long Covid

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