The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Center (CFSRC)
The vision of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Center at Stanford (CFSRC) is to discover causes, a molecular diagnosis, and a cure for CFS.
The research is directed by Dr. Ronald W. Davis, PhD, Professor of
Biochemistry and Genetics and Director of the Stanford Genome Technology
Center. He does cutting edge, innovative, interdisciplinary research and
technology development on cancer, immunology, genetics, infectious disease,
novel drug development, and nanofabrication of diagnostic instrumentation.
In trying to understand CFS, he has read the literature, consulted with
leading specialists, attended scientific meetings and thought extensively
about how he could apply his expertise to help find a molecular diagnosis,
treatment and cure. His expertise and reputation make him a uniquely
qualified scientist to take on CFS.
The CFSRC operates within the Stanford Genome Technology Center. The
scientists work in collaboration with scientists and doctors from many
disciplines, from all over the world. Similarly, for research on CFS, the
plan is to recruit world class scientists and doctors with different
specialties for collaborations or to fund their independent work. This
disease affects many systems of the human body, requiring a diversity of
knowledge to unlock its secrets. Increasing the diversity of specialties of
the researchers will mean that all aspects of this disease are considered in
our effort to understand CFS at the molecular level, not just the “symptom”
level. Thus, the Center will increase the participation of the mainstream
scientific community in CFS. Involving well known prestigious university and
research institute scientists with a track record of government funding will
not only impact CFS directly by generating new knowledge, but will also have
a ripple effect in generating awareness and legitimacy for this devastating
disease.
The Center is dedicated to research of the highest quality with openly shared data (in compliance with confidentiality laws). This kind of research opens new opportunity for discovery, since it will utilize state-of-the-art methods and technologies that have never before been applied to CFS, and will employ a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach, which will investigate all aspects of CFS in a comprehensive manner. Dr. Davis, who already has demonstrated success in this approach, is uniquely positioned to spearhead this attack on CFS at the molecular level.
