ME/CFS Lines – Cohort and Biobank

In the ME/CFS Lines consortium, several national and international research partners develop biomedical research on ME/CFS. This consortium uses data and biomaterials collected since 2006 in the Lifelines population cohort, which includes over 167,000 participants.

Questionnaires and diagnostic tests are used to identify ME/CFS patients within Lifelines. Biomaterials are used to map genetics, microbiome, antibody repertoire, proteome and metabolome in ME/CFS patients and matched controls.

The emphasis is on a multi-omics approach, for which biomaterials from before the onset of ME/CFS are also available. With these data, researchers within this consortium will search for new mechanisms that may explain the onset of ME/CFS, in order to achieve better diagnosis and treatment.

Timeline

DEC-2023 to JAN-2024

DSQ-2 to all adult participants

JAN-2024 to MAY-2024

Pre-selection of ME/CFS Lines cohort based on DSQ-2

JUN-2024 to DEC-2024

Collection of diagnostic data and biomaterials

2025

Analysis of biomaterials for mechanistic studies

Data and Biomaterials

Being integrated in Lifelines infrastructure, in the ME/CFS Lines cohort all the data collected by Lifelines are available, including repeated assessments of:
  • Cardiovascular function (ECG, blood pressure)
  • Cognitive functioning
  • Lung function (spirometry)
  • Anthropometry
  • Psychiatric interview
  • Biomaterials (blood, urine, feces)
In addition, specifically for ME/CFS patients and matched controls, ME/CFS Lines will collect:
  • Genetics
  • Microbiome
  • antibody repertoire (PhipSeq)
  • Proteome (OLink)
  • Metabolome

Funding opportunities

ZonMw has recently announced a new round of funding withing the ME/CFS program, for new biomedical research projects to join one of the existing consortia:
  • ME/CFS Lines
  • NMCB