The aim is to better understand the causes of ME/CFS to improve diagnosis and treatment. We also study patients with diseases similar to ME/CFS (such as long COVID, Q fever and Lyme disease). The body material and data collected are stored centrally for further research. You can read more about ongoing research projects on the Research page.
There is a lack of biomedical research on ME/CFS in the Netherlands. By participating, you will help us better understand and fight this debilitating disease.
The study is being conducted by the Netherlands ME/CFS Cohort and Biobank (NMCB) consortium. This is a national collaboration between all University Medical Centres (UMCs), led by Amsterdam UMC. Other partners include Dutch ME/CFS patient organisations, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and several universities. The research is funded by ZonMw.
A one-off visit to the hospital or a home visit by a nurse (duration ±1.5 hours) to collect blood, urine, stool, saliva and a nasal swab and to perform a number of physical measurements and tests. You will also be asked to complete online questionnaires at your own pace and undergo a cognitive test (±2.5 hours).
You will receive €20 for your participation in the study. If you come to the hospital, you will also be reimbursed for your travel and parking expenses.
You can participate if you are between 18 and 65 years old, have a BMI below 40, and do not suffer from certain health problems other than ME/cvs and its directly related problems, such as orthostatic intolerance (OI) or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). All conditions will be discussed with you to determine whether you can participate.
If you leave your email address on the Participate in Research page, we will notify you as soon as our next steps in the recruitment process start. Participation is always voluntary and you can decide to stop at any time. Even if you have already said yes.
