Informed consent is a critical component of any research study conducted on human subjects. It’s a comprehensive term that ensures participants in a study understand what their participation entails—including the risks and benefits of participating—and actively consent to perform the tasks. Importantly, participants also have the right to withdraw their consent to participate in a study

Informed consent is important in any field, but it holds some particular significance in ME/CFS research. As a hallmark symptom of ME/CFS, post-exertional malaise (PEM) is a critical consideration for participating in a study. Participants may experience PEM after completing study tasks. Some studies may also induce PEM in order to study that component of the disease. Informed consent will allow potential participants to understand how the study may impact their symptoms.

OMF is actively conducting over 35 research studies on ME/CFS, all governed by obtaining informed consent from participants. Read more about the projects in OMF’s research portfolio here.