Open Medicine Foundation Canada

#MayMomentum research news! Transforming the diagnosis of chronic complex diseases: An update on the PASS/CAT project: https://bit.ly/3hznpYt You might remember last year OMFCA announced that we are working on an exciting new project to streamline the arduous diagnostic process for people living with chronic complex diseases. The Personalized Automated Symptom Summary Computer Adaptive Test (PASS/CAT) is a machine learning tool that will help patients more accurately and ...efficiently convey their symptoms to their treating physician. We are excited to share the insights of one of our partners in this project, Dr. Mary Slavin, a national expert in metrics, who is working alongside Dr. Ronald Tompkins and Dr. Kazis at the OMF funded Harvard ME/CFS Collaboration and Linda Tannenbaum at Open Medicine Foundation (for patient engagement): The Inspiration People with complex chronic diseases often experience symptoms for years prior to receiving a diagnosis. They are often misdiagnosed, or physicians suggest that the symptoms they experience are psychological in nature and not due to an underlying illness. Current assessments have several significant limitations. The assessments are not based on a sound foundation and most do not focus on hallmark symptoms experienced by persons with complex chronic conditions. The concept for the PASS/CAT emerged from Dr. Tompkins’ vision to develop a new assessment tool that would provide greater efficiencies for the primary care physician in a highly time-sensitive environment. Continue reading: https://bit.ly/3hznpYt #PwME #MECFS #Fibromyalgia #Chronicillness #Medicalresearch #MillionsMissing

Christopher W. Armstrong, Ph.D. presents at OMF's 2021 Virtual Open House! Watch the full Virtual Open House event here: https://youtu.be/CzQ5wWkuJug Christopher W. Armstrong, Ph.D., is the Director of the newest OMF Collaboration Center in Melbourne, established in partnership with Emerge Australia in 2020. Chris first started ME/CFS research at the University of Melbourne through his Ph.D. project applying metabolomics to study ME/CFS. Now back in Melbourne after spending ...some years as a visiting scholar at Stanford University, Chris is guiding OMF’s exciting new Collaboration in Australia. His initial research is focused on an individualized approach to understanding and treating ME/CFS.

Check out a new video featuring OMF & OMF Canada Ambassador Jacqueline Ko, soprano!

Happy #BlueSunday2021! Thank you to all who are participating, and choosing OMF as the organization you'd like to support. In case you missed it, we recently had the chance to interview Anna, the wonderful creator of the annual Blue Sunday ME/CFS advocacy event: https://www.omfcanada.ngo/tea-party-for-me-unique-virtual-/ Check out the Blue Sunday Tea Party for ME Facebook event here: https://fb.me/e/DDhS1BoR OMFCA sends our heartfelt gratitude to Anna. Not only is she raising funds to accelerate urgently needed research, but she is inspiring advocacy, strengthening the community, and spreading hope. To show your support, you can donate directly to Anna's OMF fundraiser here: https://bit.ly/3tizVOu

20 Years Living with ME/CFS: An OMF supporter shares her experiences, life-lessons, and hope for the future as part of our #MayMomentum campaign: https://www.omfcanada.ngo/living-with-me-cfs-for-20-years/ In solidarity with May Awareness Week of #MECFS, #Fibromyalgia, and Post Treatment #LymeDisease Syndrome, Open Medicine Foundation acknowledges the significant hardships shared by those who have lived with these complex chronic illnesses for the majority of their lives. A di...sease with no treatments and no FDA-approved cures to date, millions of patients around the globe have been forced to put their lives on hold indefinitely. Today, we share the story of Sandra, a writer and person with ME/CFS. 2021 marks Sandra’s twentieth year of living with ME/CFS. To acknowledge this difficult anniversary, Sandra launched a CrowdChange fundraiser for OMF that has raised over $500! She explains, I’m supporting OMF for the purpose of funding research. In the twenty years of being sick, little has changed except there is now an incredible group of scientists dedicated to finding diagnostics, treatments, and a cure for a disease that affects millions of people across the world. Have you learned any life lessons from this experience, or have any words of wisdom for other people who are newly diagnosed? The thing I realized early on through having an invisible illness and it is something that I have really taken on in my life is that kindness and empathy are key. It’s such a cliché but a fact that you just don’t know what another is going through. So be kind and be empathetic to others whenever you can. A little understanding goes such a long way in helping another human being feel understood and seen. Something I have also had to learn the hard way is to be my own advocate in my life with chronic illness. Continue reading: https://www.omfcanada.ngo/living-with-me-cfs-for-20-years/ (Scroll down to read the full interview!)