Dr. Lucinda Bateman, an internist whose practice is dedicated to the management and care of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia, walked through the basics of the latest research linking XMRV (a human retrovirus) and CFS. She also shared some insights into what this discovery might mean for the field and for patients, as well as her perspective on other current research efforts.

Dr. Suzanne Vernon is the CFIDS Association's scientific director. She holds her doctorate in virology from the University of Wisconsin and had 17 years experience in public health research on infectious diseases before joining the Association's staff in 2007 to lead its research program. Dr. Vernon moderated the program.

The CFIDS Association of America had planned to feature a video record of the event on their website, however they encountered technical difficulties. The presentation slides can be viewed at http://www.cfids.org/webinar/xmrv-slides-jan2010.pdf (PDF Format). A participant recorded the program and it is now available at http://www.youtube.com/solvecfs#p/f. Also, Dr. Bateman has agreed to present an updated program on the same topic when she has additional news and data to share.

Closing her presentation with a positive "Worst Case Scenario," Dr. Bateman suggests:

"Even if we eventually determine that XMRV only infects a small subset of CFS patients, and/or that it is not the primary, but rather a secondary infection, at very least… This important breakthrough has succeeded in bringing international attention to CFS in the research, medical and pharma communities, and to policy makers. Our job is to help sustain this interest!"