From Summer 2010 Forum

A two-year research grant proposal was funded by the National CFIDS Foundation to screen for natural compounds derived from medicinal plants on a cell line built with markers of patients with CFIDS/ME obtained previously by the National CFIDS Foundation (NCF). All the markers provided were leukemic markers although no patient participating in the study has had a diagnosis of leukemia to the day to the knowledge of the NCF. The objective of the study is to block the damage being done by CFIDS/ME with inexpensive medicinal plants. The study has now entered it's second and final year.

The lead researcher, Dr. Hany A. El-Shemy, has a double PhD in biochemistry and genetic engineering from Cairo University in Egypt and from Hiroshima, Japan. He is a full professor at the University of Cairo and has published more than 50 papers in medical journals as well as authoring two book chapters and giving oral presentations at 25 medical conferences worldwide. His numerous awards include the state prize award from the Academy of Science and the Young Arab Resarcher proize that was given through the Shuman Foundation in Jordan.

Dr. El-Shemy's most recent publication, funded in part by the NCF, was entitled "Antitumor Properties and Modulation of Antioxident Enzymes' Activity by Aloe vera Leaf Active Principles Isolated via Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction" and published in the Current Medicinal Chemistry (2010,17: 129-138) and had co-authors from Egypt as well as Saudi Arabia and Japan. A professor from Bradford University in the United Kingdom also cooperated. The findings in the paper address how one particular plant extract could be developed for specific diseases. Any member may request a copy of this paper along with a stamped, self-addressed stamped envelope.

In March, Dr. El-Shemy was honored by being made a co-chair of a session at a medical conference held in Hyberabad, India, "International Conference on Bioequivalence & Bioavailbility 2010, Pharmaceutical R & D Summit" since they stated they were "very much aware of (his) quality of research and reputation". The conference was sponsored by several pharmaceuticals including four from the United States and is an annual conference put on by the editors of the Journal of Bioequivalence and Bioavailability. His talk was on the analysis of several compounds that he has tested with NCF funding. While some show promise, more work is needed to find if a combination will have the ability to block the ongoing damage being done by CFIDS/ME.

The Weitzmann Institute in Israel is also continuing their research and have made progress toward their goal as is the research from Stoneybook, New York and from the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. Their approach, although unique, is expected to find answers in areas not sought before and to all meld together upon completion.