by Alan Cocchetto

The National CFIDS Foundation (NCF) is pleased to announce that Dr. Donald Carrigan and Dr. Konstance Knox, medical scientists with the Institute for Viral Pathogenesis, will present their research results on the STAT1 protein in CFS patients at the 2004 AACFS Seventh International Conference on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and other Related Illnesses on October 8-10 in Madison, Wisconsin.

     Drs. Knox and Carrigan's work, titled the "Potential Role of STAT1 in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome," was funded by a research grant from the NCF in the summer of 2003. This research was aimed at extending the previous work done by Dr. Kenny DeMeirleir and his colleagues from Belgium.

     "CFS/ME patients have increased incidences of infections, including Epstein-Barr (EBV), HHV-6 and mycoplasmas among others. The NCF believes that our understanding of the STAT1 protein is critically important to the pathogenesis of this disease," stated Gail Kansky, president of the NCF. "STAT1 deficiencies are associated with fatal infections, therefore the importance of this research cannot be understated. We are grateful to Dr. Carrigan and Dr. Knox for their commitment to this vital research since it may help to explain the immune dysfunction component of CFIDS. Furthermore, by presenting the findings at this major conference, sponsored by the AACFS, other scientists and physicians will be able to see this important work firsthand," stated Kansky.