Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

President's Message
Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 2:42pm

Dear Friends,

The Whittemore Peterson Institute “exists to bring discovery, knowledge, and effective treatments to patients”. Those words in our mission statement have an even more powerful significance with the publication of our most recent research findings. The identification of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in patients with ME/CFS and other neuro-immune diseases provides remarkable new possibilities for understanding and diagnosing these conditions.

With this recognition in the prestigious journal Science, we can now expect the research and medical communities to grasp the significant biological basis for the many varied symptoms experienced by those who suffer. Patients will no longer have to wait 6 months for a definitive diagnosis. With millions of our friends and family suffering in just this country alone, this recognition can’t come soon enough.

This discovery is due to the pioneering work of WPI’s Research Director, Dr. Judy Mikovits, research scientist Dr. Vince Lombardi, our Medical Director Dr. Daniel Peterson, and their collaborators, Dr. Frank Ruscetti of the National Cancer Institute and Dr. Bob Silverman of the Cleveland Clinic. They are just a few of the individuals who have committed their lives to bringing answers to those who suffer from the many chronic diseases that have traditionally been poorly understood and often misrepresented.

I believe that The Whittemore Peterson Institute is creating more than hope for the millions who suffer from X associated neuro-immune diseases such as ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, atypical MS, autism and other similar diseases that have a life long impact on both the immune system and the brain.

It was just 4 years ago that state and private funds were first promised for a new joint research and patient care facility at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Since then our team has been working to bring to life the vision of a comprehensive medical program for patients that would quickly translate advances in research to more effective medical treatments. This has been the dream of our doctors, patients and researchers for many years and is now becoming a reality; not only for Nevadans, but for those throughout the world who need our help. Our new facility will be open in 2010, but as evidenced by the recent articles in Science the work is well under way in our laboratory at the University of Nevada, throughout the United States and the world.

I feel extremely privileged to have the honor of working with such dedicated and selfless individuals. None of this progress would be possible without the work of hundreds of individuals who ask nothing more than to help. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” I would like to dedicate these pages to all of you who live by these words.

Sincerely,

Annette Whittemore
Founder and President
Posted on 11/04/09, 02:11 pm