The Whittemore Peterson Institute announced today that Dr. Judy Mikovits will transition from research director to director of translational research. Dr. Vincent Lombardi, lead author of the Science paper that found the retrovirus XMRV in patients with ME/CFS, assumes the job of director of research.
"The point of the change is that the basic research grants and papers are not being funded or published because of the baseless contamination rumors," Mikovits wrote to CFS Central in an email. "Therefore, I cannot mentor young investigators [and] students, who cannot move their careers forward because of these politics. I will be out seeking collaborations with other institutions--academic, private foundations and industry. Whenever we show and discuss all of the details of the data with investigators, they see and know it is not contamination.
"Prior to the reorganization," Mikovits continued, "I spent my days unable to help thousands... who have evidence of infection and cannot get help from their government or other research organizations.... I am totally confident that XMRV and a family of human gamma retroviruses is playing a role in ME/CFS.... [and] our reorganization reflects that confidence and allows me to move forward drug and diagnostic development."
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Thank you, Mindy. This is wonderful news! It cheers my heart to read this quote from Dr. Mikovits: "I am totally confident that XMRV and a family of human gamma retroviruses is playing a role in ME/CFS.... [and] our reorganization reflects that confidence and allows me to move forward drug and diagnostic development."
ReplyDeletePatricia Carter
Unbelievable....
ReplyDeleteThanks Mindy.
Poor Judy. Yet this is a smart move given the political climate. Collaborations may get us that much-needed replication study. Thanks for getting the skinny on this reorganization, Mindy.
ReplyDeleteThese are trying times for ME patients. The sooner the better scientists get to the bottom our illness the better.
ReplyDeleteGot to hand it to WPI, they do what needs to be done, and then when they're blocked by CDC, NIH etc., they adapt. Other "CFS" orgs could learn from this. Thanks, Mindy. This is good news imo. Godspeed Dr. Mikovits.
ReplyDeleteAnd will the NIH still be singing their same old song about how the reason they aren't funding studies is that the caliber of the proposals isn't good enough?
ReplyDeleteSo WPI doesn’t have funds for research, but does have the money to have two ‘Director’ level pay grades ? Interesting priorities there. Did the WPI Board really set up their operation with the expectation of being able to operate research on grant income alone, or of pursing a single infective route ?
ReplyDeleteComplaining that “the basic research grants and papers are not being funded or published because of the baseless contamination rumors” is both pathetic and inept; pathetic because no research institution should expect funder support under all circumstances, and inept because it is basically saying the funders are too dim to understand – that should play really well when the next round of grant applications are submitted.
Hi. Dave from oz.
ReplyDeleteBig big thx from down under. Although no retro virus should be good news, its all we have to hope for a shot at a normak life if treatment is possible. Much love to you mind for giving us some insight of what is really going on. How can I help? I'm one of the lucky ones.
Yeh, I suspected papers and grants were being held back quite a while ago. We need LNCaP studies published.
ReplyDeleteGood on WPI for looking at alternatives such as appealing directly to academia, foundations, and industry. Hopefully that works out better.
Researchers need to work together and look at the whole picture.
ReplyDeleteI have had ME/CFIDS for years, like everyone I get excited when we hear news about the research that is on going.
The hype around the XMRV has little information, and not enough replication.
The research from The National CFIDS Foundation is more fact, and less hype. The test for ciguatera toxin could be used as a first test to find CFIDS. The money sent to NCF is not used to pay for new research lab, office help it goes to research.
The hype around XMRV is bringing in millions for the institute based on so little.
I don't understand why this is good news. Seriously, I'm worried. It looks more to me like she's moving out of the spotlight because of all the negative publicity associated with her name.
ReplyDeleteI can assure you that millions have not been raised for XMRV alone . The WPI had put an entire Scientific Advisory Board , Clinical Board, a research program that studies the biological causes of neuroimmune disease and is branching into advocacy as well as opening a clinic in early Summer as well as opening a clinical lab. I can assure you whatever money is raised funds all of these programs .
ReplyDeleteThey also did exactly what Colimbia nd Stanford are doing now. An entire viral microaarray study. Look for cytokine, chemokine and more immunological parameters to come out soon.
Finding a treatment that works for cfs counts with me the most. So I am glad that Dr. Judy is leading in the frontier with international contacts and pharmaceutical companies etc. God bless her.
ReplyDelete"The point of the change is that the basic research grants and papers are not being funded or published because of the baseless contamination rumors"
ReplyDeleteHUH?? Baseless?? The amount of data now showing that XMRV is contamination surly does not make the claims baseless, even Dr. Silverman has serious concerns about contamination like any scientist who looks at the data rationally.
I think it clear they are pushing her out because she does not know how to make friends in the scientific community with her ridiculous statements. It is essential to bring other researchers together and move the science forward on ME/CFS not attack everyone and make far less people interested in working on ME/CFS. The way she has been handling the scientific community really strikes a nerve in me. The release of the science paper in 2009 was a perfect moment to bring new researchers into the field but instead she has created many more that never want to touch it.
****Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI can assure you that millions have not been raised for XMRV alone . The WPI had put an entire Scientific Advisory Board , Clinical Board, a research program that studies the biological causes of neuroimmune disease and is branching into advocacy as well as opening a clinic in early Summer as well as opening a clinical lab. I can assure you whatever money is raised funds all of these programs .
They also did exactly what Colimbia nd Stanford are doing now. An entire viral microaarray study. Look for cytokine, chemokine and more immunological parameters to come out soon.****
************************************************Well, They shouldhave been doing those Other studyes in addition to XMRV stuff.Change in names of research directers does not change chance of contamination. It will be the same labs taking money for tests and giving poor results. Today you are positive tomorrow you are negative. Having Mikovitz doing treatments is going to be bad. She is a lab rat not a proper doctor with experience to be treating patients. W.P.I. lost the trust of alot of patients worldwide when they bounced Peterson as he would not bow down to Mikovitz or the owners. The institute is being ran like a Navada casino slot machiene. Trick you to Put your money in but nothing or little falls out. Dr Deker Jones has no ability to run W.P.I. treatment facility because of taking AIDS drugs and having a blog. If that were happening here, the institute would be closed. Cheers
"totally confident"! Now that's good news indeed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with DR Judy's confidence in XMRV. I have confidence in Judy. I am one of those fortunate enough to have started antiviral med and feeling better that I have for years. Hoping for better in the future. MB
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