Tag: PNAS

Center Investigator Anne Gardella Featured in Discover Magazine for ME/CFS Biomarker Research

Anne Gardella

We’re excited to share that a graduate student within the Center, Anne Gardella, has been featured in Discover Magazine for her recent publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on cell-free RNA biomarkers for ME/CFS. Gardella’s work developed machine-learning models to identify molecular fingerprints in blood samples that achieved 77% accuracy in detecting ME/CFS, representing what she calls “a promising start to a non-invasive test” for this complex condition affecting over 3 million Americans. While acknowledging that clinical diagnostic tools typically require above 90% accuracy, Gardella remains optimistic about the potential for this approach to contribute to both reliable diagnosis and deeper understanding of ME/CFS, stating, “we hope this work not only contributes to a reliable diagnostic tool and a deeper understanding of ME/CFS but also continues to bring understanding of the biological problems that result in the lived experiences of these patients.”

New Research Links T Cell Exhaustion to ME/CFS

A new study from our Center, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), has revealed important insights into how ME/CFS affects the immune system. The research team, led by Associate Director Andrew Grimson, discovered that patients with ME/CFS show signs of T cell exhaustion, a condition where immune cells become less effective at fighting infections. This finding helps to better understand the chronic nature of the disease and may open new paths for treatment approaches.

Fig. 5 Model of proposed ME T cell mechanism of action via exhaustion.
Source: PNAS publication

The Cornell Chronicle has published an accompanying article about this research, offering a detailed look at the study’s implications for ME/CFS patients. The article explains how the research team conducted their investigation and what these findings might mean for future treatment strategies. You can read the full Cornell Chronicle coverage to learn more about this significant development in ME/CFS research.

Scroll to top