A groundbreaking community-led conference is set to shake up the scene for people with long Covid and ME/CFS

A groundbreaking international and community-driven long Covid and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) conference – ‘Unite To Fight’ – is about to take place for the first time. Already, the event is picking up momentum – with over 7,000 people from across the globe flocking to register in just two weeks.

Of course, it’s only just getting started. Organisers have packed the conference to the rafters with speakers raring to shake up the long Covid and ME/CFS scene.

Unite To Fight 2024 conference

The inaugural #UniteToFight2024 virtual conference will take place on 15 and 16 May.

From its inception, organisers made #UniteToFight2024 a community-focused project. Significantly, the event has been organised by people living with long Covid and ME/CFS, for those living with these debilitating conditions.

Given this, members of the patient community and beyond have flocked to support #UniteToFight2024 since it announced its launch. Impressively, it has drummed up over 7,000 globe-spanning registrations in little more than two weeks.

Moreover, the diverse audience it has drawn in reflects the broad impact and importance of this event. Patients, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, politicians, and journalists have all signed up to participate.

Of course, this groundswell of support is testament to the fact that this first-of-its-kind joint long Covid and ME/CFS conference is doing something rare. Specifically, it is putting patients at the heart of its agenda.

Platforming patients and allies

What you won’t find at this conference? A lobby of psychologising scientists and clinicians fixated on gaslighting patients with inventive new rebrands of graded exercise therapy. Instead, #UnitetoFight is bringing together a distinguished line-up of speakers responsive to patient calls for better biomedical research and support.

In the first instance, it will platform people from both communities. Importantly, the conference has an inclusive focus; it will amplify patient voices in multiple community keynote sessions.

On top of this, scientists, politicians, and journalists fighting together with people living with these debilitating chronic illnesses will take to the stage. Significantly, the event boasts talks from leading scientists spearheading vital biomedical research into long Covid and ME/CFS.

This includes renowned figures such as Akiko Iwasaki, Ron Davis, David Putrino, Carmen Scheibenbogen, Danny Altmann, Resia Pretorius and other experts from the United States, Europe and New Zealand. These esteemed speakers will share their insights, latest research findings, and strategies for tackling the challenges posed by long Covid and ME/CFS.

Unite To Fight: ‘building and encouraging collaboration’

Press Officer of UniteToFight Marco Wetzel said:

Our mission is to build unity and encourage collaboration, advancing understanding and support both in the scientific realm and across the broader community, moving these important discussions from the margins to the mainstream.

Alongside this, he said that the “tremendous support and enthusiasm” for the conference shows that it:

represents a unique opportunity for collaboration, learning, and advocacy in the fight against Long Covid and ME/CFS. Together, we can drive meaningful progress.

Ultimately, the conference looks set to do exactly as it says on the tin. It will unite an eclectic assembly of the patient community and stalwart allies from across the science, political, and media spaces. Crucially, together, they will step up the fight for research, treatments, and justice for all those living with these devastating chronic illnesses.

The conference will take place from 9.00 am to 7.15 pm CEST/ 7.00 am to 5.15 pm GMT on 15 and 16 May. For more information about #UniteToFight2024, including registration details and the full conference program, you can visit its website here.

This article was reproduced from the Chronic Collaboration with permission

Feature image via Unite To Fight.