Young EMERG International ME Workshop Series: Vienna 2025
Reflections on the Young EMERG International ME Workshop in Vienna 2025
From 27–28 November 2025, the Young EMERG International ME Workshop brought together early-career researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Organised by Young EMERG in collaboration with the Medical University of Vienna and supported by Invest in ME Research, this two-day workshop provided a dynamic space for learning, collaboration, and exchange among researchers working on ME/CFS.
The programme covered clinical practice and innovative research in ME/CFS. Contributions from experts across neurology,
psychiatry, immunology, health economics, research funding, and industry offered a broad, interdisciplinary overview of
the field.
Poster sessions were also a central part of the workshop, allowing participants to present their work, receive feedback,
and connect with peers. The exchange encouraged discussion and collaboration across diverse ME-related research areas.
Participant Demographics
Supporting Emerging Researchers
Voices from participants with attendance grants
Thanks to the support of Invest in ME Research, attendance grants were awarded to help cover accommodation costs, enabling participation from early-career researchers across different regions.
"I had a wonderful time at the Young EMERG workshop and am very grateful for the opportunity to participate as a Travel Grant recipient. The lectures were excellent, well organised and truly inspiring.
I came away with several new ideas and perspectives."
"I particularly appreciate how engaging the discussions were and how open and supportive the atmosphere was throughout the event. Meeting so many interesting people and exchanging experiences with scientists from different backgrounds was also a very important part of the programme. Overall, the workshops were not only valuable from a professional point of view, but also very motivating and reinforced my enthusiasm for further work in this field. Thank you once again for organising such a wonderful event."
"The workshop in Vienna was very well organised, with very interesting and relevant content. It was great to see how many different approaches to ME/CFS are being investigated by young researchers. The experience was made complete with the activities and opportunity to connect with other researchers. I had high expectations for the workshop, and it was even better."
"I recently attended the YoungEMERG workshop in Vienna, where I presented our upcoming project investigating the role of muscle metabolic decline in post-exertional malaise (PEM) using metabolic imaging. The workshop provided an excellent overview of current ME/CFS research and highlighted opportunities for collaboration across disciplines. I was particularly inspired by the diversity of presentations and discussions on advancing research partnerships. This experience will inform our ongoing work to better characterise fatigue mechanisms and integrate metabolic imaging measures into future study protocols assessing the efficacy of management strategies in ME/CFS."
Building Community and Collaboration
Beyond the formal programme, informal networking, group discussions, and social activities helped strengthen connections among participants, fostering collaborations that extend beyond the workshop itself.
By encouraging open dialogue and peer-to-peer learning, the workshop cultivated a sense of community that continues to grow, laying the groundwork for long term partnerships and a more interconnected research network.
Lab Rotation Programme
In addition, we would like to highlight the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) ME/CFS Lab Rotation Programme, which offers valuable opportunities for interdisciplinary training and mobility for early-career researchers.
We encourage interested readers to explore the programme and consider applying:
Acknowledging Our Sponsors and Supporters
The Vienna 2025 workshop was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and partners.
We especially acknowledge Invest in ME Research as the main sponsor. We also thank Virax Biolabs (UK) Limited, who sponsored the poster prizes, the Ströck family, who kindly provided the catering for the event, and Leonardo Hotels for providing discounted prices. We are also grateful to the Medical University of Vienna for hosting the workshop and supporting its organisation.
Looking Ahead: Young EMERG Workshop Cambridge 2026
Young EMERG is pleased to announce its next workshop, to be held in Cambridge in 25-26 May 2026.
The Cambridge Young EMERG Workshop 2026 will continue to support exchange, collaboration, and community building among early-career researchers in ME/CFS.
Further details will be shared via the official workshop website.
Informal evening outing to the Vienna Christmas market, rounding off the Young EMERG workshop.
Contact / Join Young EMERG
Interested in being part of this exciting European initiative or staying in the loop about future Young EMERG events? Reach out to us—together, we can accelerate progress in ME/CFS research in Europe!
Use the contact form below to join up with Young EMERG.
Please also provide any details of your research or your plans.