Mason Foundation awards $1.44 million to fight chronic fatigue

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    Approximately $1.44 million has been committed to support vital Australian research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

    The Judith Jane Mason & Harold Stannett Williams Memorial Foundation (the Mason Foundation) is a charitable trust established by a generous donation in 2003 by Judith Jane Mason (née Williams) and named in honour of her father Harold Stannett Williams. 

    ME/CFS is a complex and debilitating condition, characterised by profound fatigue, cognitive impairment, and other symptoms that worsen with physical or mental exertion and don't improve with rest.  Secondary symptoms may include gastrointestinal disorders, muscle and joint pain and immune impairments.

    The Mason Foundation was one of the first philanthropic funders to recognise the importance of ME/CFS research, with funding directed to solving the ongoing challenge of this elusive illness, which has a devastating impact on the lives of many.

    The 2025 ME/CFS research grants program will fund each of the following projects over the next three years:

    1. Dr Katherine Huang, University of Melbourne – Predicting post-exertional malaise in ME / CFS with digital biomarkers – $360,000
    2. Dr Francesca Alves, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health – Modelling and treating energy deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME / CFS) – $359,970
    3. Dr Benjamin Heng, Macquarie University - Validating a novel blood-based biological signature to diagnose and manage myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME / CFS) – $356,694
    4. Dr Sarah Annesley, La Trobe University – miRNA alterations in ME / CFS: Unpacking the role of S6K, viruses and metabolism – $359,405.

    Since establishment 22 years ago, the Mason Foundation has awarded more than $27 million of research funding for ME/CFS and also Alzheimer’s disease. 

    Emily Cormack, National Manager, Social Impact Team at Equity Trustees, said, “The Mason Foundation grants provide much needed and significant funding for research into a condition that is not well understood. Diagnosis is a challenge in the absence of a diagnostic test and of a universally accepted case definition among researchers and clinicians.”

    “The Mason Foundation has provided continuous funding since 2005 for research into ME/CFS. We are hopeful that the ME/CFS competitive grant scheme will help our understanding of this poorly understood condition which impacts so many lives,” Ms Cormack said.