ME Research UK
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About
To fundraise for and to fund biomedical research into the causes, consequences and treatments for ME/CFS. Charity provides information on research findings as well as information on the disease and the importance of research. The aims are achieved by providing research grants and provision of information via social media and print. 'the advancement of education','the advancement of health','the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science' To advance scientific knowledge by commissioning or funding research into the causes, consequences and treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) or any other related illnesses, and to publish or cause to be published the results of any such research. To advance public education and awareness of the causes, consequences and treatment of Myalgic …
Energising ME Research
The charity was established in 2000 by Dr Vance Spence and Robert McRae, and thanks to the impetus and financial backing of Founding Patron, Roger Jefcoate DL CBE. Vance and Bob were diagnosed with ME/CFS in the 1980s and 1990s, …
Programs
2 programs run by ME Research UK-
Blood-based biomarkers to aid ME/CFS diagnosis
Developing an accurate and reliable diagnostic test for ME/CFS is one of the holy grails of research into this disease, and was identified as a priority by the ME/CFS Priority Setting Partnership in 2022. A team of interdisciplinary researchers led by Prof. Chris Ponting at the University of Edinburgh believe a promising diagnostic approach may be to measure the levels of different proteins in the blood, which can be done accurately and cheaply.
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Understanding the mechanism and role of autoimmunity in ME/CFS
Our immune system is responsible for protecting our body from infections such as viruses and bacteria, recognising and destroying harmful substances from the environment, and combating changes in the body that can cause disease. The role of the immune system in the development of ME/CFS has been widely researched, and several studies funded by ME Research UK have explored various aspects of abnormal immune function in the illness.
Focus & reach
Verification & registration
Every mark links to the official registry entry and opens in a new tab.
Integrity assessment
A score from 0 to 100 for how openly a charity shares public information across five areas: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and data recency. It does not measure programme impact. See exactly what we do and do not have →
Financials
OSCR (Scottish Charity Regulator)Leadership at a glance
Charity-submitted
GiveRadar Intelligence
GiveRadar Analysis
Based on the records currently verified by GiveRadar, ME Research UK has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 3 independent sources including OSCR.
- This profile is owner-verified, which only 0% of comparable charities are. See national comparisons
- It has more complete governance disclosure than nearly all comparable charities, because GiveRadar has verified leadership, a mission statement and a founding date. See national comparisons
- Its integrity score of 90 places it in the top 1% of the 26,075 health charities in the United Kingdom GiveRadar tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its registration. View this cohort
- government registration
- financial records (5 filed years)
- disclosed leadership
- a website
- a contact email
- a donation page
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-10-19. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Filing history
5 years on file from OSCR (Scottish Charity Regulator): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
Sign up to viewTax deductibility
Whether a gift to ME Research UK lowers your own taxes depends on where you pay them. Choose your country to see the rule that applies.
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
ME Research UK is in United Kingdom, a TGE (Transnational Giving Europe) member country. Dutch donors can route gifts via Stichting Transnational Giving Europe to receive Dutch ANBI-equivalent deductibility, subject to TGE's 5% pass-through fee.
ME Research UK is registered in United Kingdom. US donors generally cannot deduct gifts to non-US charities directly. To claim a deduction, route the gift through a US 'Friends of' fiscal sponsor or a donor-advised fund that performs equivalency determination (IRS Rev. Proc. 92-94).
This is general guidance, not tax advice. Confirm treatment with the charity or your tax advisor before donating.
Staff & volunteers
Leadership & board
Charity-submittedBoard members and senior officers on record, with disclosed pay where available.
6 officers and trustees on file, free with a GiveRadar account.
No red flags detected
Timeline
From official filingsKey dates from this charity's official filings, newest first.
In the news
No recent news coverage found
News coverage will appear here when articles mention this organization.
Top 1% of 26,075 health charities in the United Kingdom on integrity score
The highest integrity score in this cohort (90/100). Positions are competition ranks: ties share a position. Cohorts are the tightest local peer set with at least 30 comparable organizations; a metric is left out where the cohort is too small or nearly uniform.
Bars show the share of the cohort this charity outranks. Ranks describe how much is publicly disclosed, not how good the charity is.
How it stacks up against peers
Compared with 8 similar health charities in United Kingdom.
Cause areas in United Kingdom
Charities working in each area, this charity's highlighted.
Sources and verification
- Registration and legal identity
- Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) - Scottish Charity Register
- Financial filings
- OSCR annual returns (Scottish Charity Register) · Fiscal year 2025 most recent on file.
- Officers and trustees
- Submitted by the organisation · 6 submitted by the organisation.
What we know and don't know
Every data point we track for this charity, and whether we have found it. Disclosure only, never a judgment of the charity's work.
Data freshness
How current this profile is, and when we last checked it against the official source.
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
Read full methodologyFrequently asked questions about ME Research UK
ME Research UK is a registered health nonprofit based in Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It was founded in 2000 and has been operating for 26 years. Its registration number is SC036942. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 90/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports £877K in annual revenue. 6 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.
Based on official filings, ME Research UK has £877K in annual revenue. It allocates 94% of expenses to programs and services. This is above the average of 87% for health charities in United Kingdom. Fundraising costs represent 6%. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.
To fundraise for and to fund biomedical research into the causes, consequences and treatments for ME/CFS. Charity provides information on research findings as well as information on the disease and the importance of research. The aims are achieved by providing research grants and provision of information via social media and print. 'the advancement of education','the advancement of health','the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science' To advance scientific knowledge by commissioning or funding research into the causes, consequences and treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) or any other related illnesses, and to publish or cause to be published the results of any such research. To advance public education... ME Research UK is classified as a health organization registered in United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 2000.
ME Research UK is classified as a Health organization, registered in United Kingdom. It operates as a SCIO. It has £877K in annual revenue. The organization has 6 disclosed officers and directors.
ME Research UK's official registration number is SC036942, as recorded in the national registry of United Kingdom.
ME Research UK is located in Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom. The organization was established in 2000 and has been active for 26 years.
ME Research UK is based in Perth in Scotland. The Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) is the primary regulator. Scotland has its own regulator (OSCR), and Northern Ireland has the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI). A charity registered with the CCEW may operate across the whole of the UK or internationally.
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Quick facts about ME Research UK
- What is ME Research UK?
- ME Research UK is a health scio based in Perth, United Kingdom. To fundraise for and to fund biomedical research into the causes, consequences and treatments for ME/CFS. Charity provides information on research findings as well as information on the disease and the importance of research. The aims are achieved by providing research grants and provision of information via social media and print. 'the advancement of education','the advancement of health','the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science' To advance scientific knowledge by commissioning or funding research into the causes, consequences and treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) or any other related illnesses, and to publish or cause to be published the results of any such research. To advance public education and awareness of the causes, consequences and treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) or any other related illnesses, and of the need for research into the condition, by producing printed or electronic information, funding or hosting scientific meetings, and acting as a key information resource for researchers, medical practitioners, healthcare professionals and the general public.
- When was ME Research UK founded?
- ME Research UK was founded in 2000.
- Where is ME Research UK located?
- Headquartered in Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom.
- What is ME Research UK's annual budget?
- Annual revenue for fiscal year 2025 is £877,131. 94% of expenses go to program services.
- Is ME Research UK trustworthy?
- ME Research UK has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 90 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is ME Research UK's registration number?
- Registration: SC036942 (United Kingdom).
- What is ME Research UK's website?
- https://www.meresearch.org.uk
- Are donations to ME Research UK tax-deductible?
- Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. US donors should check whether the charity has an equivalency-determination letter or a US-based fiscal sponsor before claiming a deduction.