More than $1 million has been committed to support vital Australian research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), with three new research projects to commence in 2026.

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 since 2005 to solving the ongoing challenge of this elusive illness, which has a devastating impact on the lives of many. More than $11.7 million has been awarded for research grants investigating ME/CFS since 2018, including more than $2 million to establish and operate The Australian ME/CFS and Long Covid Biobank and Registry and associated AusME Registry.

The ME/CFS research grants program will fund each of the following projects, commencing in 2026:

1. Professor Simon Barry, Women's and Children's Health Network, South Australia – Developing predictive biomarkers of ME/CFS and long COVID – $375,000 over 3 years;

Project Summary: There is a pressing need for biomarkers to diagnose ME/CFS so that patients can receive early treatment to relieve the burden of this illness. As there are very strong similarities between ME/CFS and long COVID, we aim to determine whether our novel long COVID biomarker can also predict ME/CFS, and whether the mechanism of action is similar. This will enable better diagnosis, earlier intervention, and recognition of patients suffering from these chronic and debilitation conditions. This research will leverage Australian ME/CFS bioresources and involve patients in the process to improve understanding and care for those affected.

2. Professor Dale Nyholt, Queensland University of Technology – Integrative multi-omic analyses to identify genetic and epigenetic biomarkers and molecular mechanisms for ME/CFS – $259,884 over 2 years; and

Project Summary: This project aims to uncover the biological causes of ME/CFS, a debilitating condition affecting energy, immune, and neurological systems. Using advanced genetic and molecular techniques, researchers will identify biomarkers and pathways linked to ME/CFS and its overlap with Long COVID. The findings will improve diagnosis, guide treatment development, and reduce stigma. By analysing large datasets and integrating genetic and epigenetic information, the study will provide critical insights into disease mechanisms, helping improve the lives of Australians living with ME/CFS and easing the burden on healthcare systems.

3. Dr Christopher Armstrong, The University of Melbourne – Of Mice and PEM: unveiling the mechanism of PEM in a mouse model – $356,694 over 3 years.

Project Summary: Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) is a flare in symptoms following minor exertion, a central symptom of ME/CFS. This grant proposes a mouse study to uncover PEM's root causes. We will infect mice with a strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, wait 3 months, then test exertion over 2 days to spot "PEM mice" that reduce exertion on day two. Using muscle biopsies, we will check markers of PEM from human studies (inflammation and altered energy production). Stable isotope "tracers" in food will map metabolism across organs, linking muscle issues to brain/heart/lung inflammation, especially sex differences. This model could unlock treatments, easing lives for millions.

Since establishment in December 2003, the Mason Foundation has awarded more than $28 million of research funding for ME/CFS, and 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. We are hopeful that the ME/CFS competitive grant scheme will help our understanding of this poorly understood condition which impacts so many lives.”

Professor Peter Scofield AO, Chair of the Mason Foundation’s National Medical Advisory Panel, said, “The quality of submitted research proposals has been rising year on year, and the panel is also delighted to see new researchers entering the field. This year’s successful grants bring new ideas and approaches to address the ongoing challenges of improving the diagnosis, management and treatment of ME/CFS.”