We have begun to approve studies for access to DecodeME data. Inherited chromosomally integrated human herpesvirus 6 (iciHHV-6) in DecodeME Principal applicant: Professor Ruth Jarrett, University of GlasgowSummary - REQ001Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and 6B (HHV-6B) are two, closely related viruses that infect humans. We often refer to them collectively as HHV-6. These viruses have a unique ability to become a part of the host's DNA, specifically in a part called telomeres. In a small proportion of people, this integration into DNA is present in the germline and the virus is passed down from parents to their children. This is known as inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (iciHHV-6). In the UK overall, about 1.4% of people have iciHHV-6 and in Ireland and Scotland this proportion increases to around 3%.Recent lab data suggest HHV-6 reactivation might trigger ME/CFS, but larger studies are required to confirm the association with HHV-6 and iciHHV-6, the inherited form of the virus.This project will test how common iciHHV-6 is among a sub-set of DecodeME volunteers (~4,500). The study also aims to see if there's a difference in iciHHV-6 frequency between ME/CFS patients who initially had symptoms suggesting an infectious disease and those who didn't.Potential patient benefitThis study could help understand if there's a link between iciHHV-6 and ME/CFS, especially in cases where symptoms started after an illness suggesting an infectious disease. By investigating the potential link between iciHHV-6 and ME/CFS, patients could gain a better understanding of the underlying causes of their condition. This knowledge could potentially lead to more accurate diagnosis and treatment strategies tailored to individual patients.Access requiredData and samples.Study durationCompletion of analysis is planned for the end of September 2024.Find out moreContact Ruth.Jarrett@glasgow.ac.uk Identification and validation of genetic risk signatures associated with ME/CFS for precision drug repositioning and diagnostic triaging Principal applicant: Dr. Steve Gardner, PrecisionLife LtdSummary - REQ003PrecisionLife is a precision medicine company, driving precision medicine in complex chronic diseases.The company is unique in its ability to understand the causal biology of complex diseases and link chronic disease patients to effective treatments via the molecular mechanism of their disease and response to treatments.This research project forms part of PrecisionLife’s wider LOCOME (LOng COvid and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis diagnostics and stratification) Innovate UK grant, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Action for ME.The research seeks to:Validate and extend the company’s precision medicine analysis done to date with UK Biobank dataInvestigate disease risk and protective signatures for ME/CFS, to help develop new diagnostics and genotypic triaging tools and identify genetic risk factors, with the goal of being able to rapidly and accurately assess patients presenting with potential ME/CFSHelp identify precision medicines in the form of novel drug treatments and repositioning opportunities targeted at specific patient subgroups within the populationPotential patient benefitThe innovative precision medicine project aims to help diagnose ME/CFS and long Covid more accurately and make progress towards finding the most appropriate treatment options for patients. Better diagnostics and treatment options for ME/CFS and for long Covid would directly impact over two million people in the UK. It could help many patients back into fuller social and economic participation. A quicker, more certain diagnosis and the availability of personalized treatments would be a massive benefit to patients and lead to improved quality of life and health equity.Access requiredDataStudy duration24 monthsFind out moreVisit precisionlife.com, or follow PrecisionLife on LinkedIn (@PrecisionLifeAI) and X/Twitter (@PrecisionLifeAI). This article was published on 2025-08-19
