Hope

While the official FDA/NIH study by Dr. Harvey Alter is still awaiting publication (it is at press and reportedly due out soon), I couldn't help but be excited to see this news article when I awoke this morning:

Findings by Reno Scientists Confirmed by U.S. Government

They are of course referring to the October 2009 Science study which found a new human retrovirus, XMRV, in 67% of ME/CFS patients.

Some of my favorite quotes in the above article:

“There has been an issue over whether anybody could replicate our study, and [the FDA/NIH study] will not only confirm our findings but extend our findings, which is really exciting for us,” [Mikovits] said. Mikovits said they also have new, unpublished data concerning the retrovirus, XMRV, that could lead to treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

and

“We have immune system profiles and we can tell by the immune system how the XMRV is doing the damage,” she said. “So we could have a diagnostic test to follow clinical treatment and show that people’s immune systems go back to normal. That’s the latest data that’s really amazing. That’s what we’re after.”That data will be published by the end of the year, probably in a clinical immunology journal, she said.

and

Lombardi said clinical trials could begin soon at the Whittemore Peterson Institute, which is relocating from its tiny laboratory on the University of Nevada, Reno campus to the university’s newly opened Center for Molecular Medicine.

In addition, in an interview on Nevada Newsmakers, Andrea Whittemore (daughter of Annette and Harvey Whittemore, and the inspiration behind the Whittemore Peterson Institute) speaks briefly to the fact that she is receiving new treatment for her condition based on these findings, and is doing much better.

Could there really be a light now visible at the end of our tunnel?

photo from weheartit.com

Could it be that genuine hope has finally arrived, and is here to stay?