Genetic Determinants of Post-Infectious ME/CFS: a 50-Family Study

This project addresses an important gap in ME/CFS research by focusing on families in which several members are affected. Such familial clustering suggests that inherited genetic factors may contribute to disease susceptibility. The project will establish a deeply characterised cohort of 50 families with at least two affected members. Participants will undergo standardised clinical, neurological, and neuropsychological assessments, and severely affected individuals will be included through home visits. Blood samples will undergo state-of-the-art long-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify complex genetic variation, structural variants, repeat expansions, and DNA methylation patterns that may contribute to disease susceptibility. Additional biospecimens will be stored in the Hannover Unified Biobank to enable future studies of immune function and other molecular mechanisms. By combining comprehensive clinical phenotyping with advanced genomic technologies, the project aims to identify genetic susceptibility factors for post-infectious ME/CFS, improve disease stratification, and establish a sustainable resource for future research. Ultimately, the findings are expected to support the development of improved biomarkers, more precise diagnostics, and targeted therapeutic strategies.