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| accessdate = 13 January 2010}}</ref><ref name=Discover/> The Reno Gazette and Journal reported that Mikovits stated the ''PLoS ONE'' study team biased their study so as to not find the virus in its samples, and that Mikovits "suspected insurance companies in the United Kingdom are behind attempts to sully the findings of the Reno study".<ref name=RGJ20100113/>
| accessdate = 13 January 2010}}</ref><ref name=Discover/> The Reno Gazette and Journal reported that Mikovits stated the ''PLoS ONE'' study team biased their study so as to not find the virus in its samples, and that Mikovits "suspected insurance companies in the United Kingdom are behind attempts to sully the findings of the Reno study".<ref name=RGJ20100113/>


In August 2010 researchers from the [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] and [[National Institutes of Health|NIH]] had reported in the journal [[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|PNAS]] that they had detected [[murine leukemia virus]]-like retrovirus gag gene sequences similar to polytropic MLVs and XMRVs in 87% of patients and 7% of blood donor controls. Although the study did not find XMRV as such, the authors conclude that their findings "clearly support the central argument" put forward in the original WPI/NCI/CC study, that MLV-related viruses are associated with CFS and are present in some blood donors. The authors also point out that none of the followup studies to date, including their own, have attempted to replicate all of the original study's multiple methods used to detect XMRV.<ref name=Lo/> A subsequent commentary in ''Science'' observed that even skeptics are impressed by how much care the authors of the new study took to ensure accuracy, but that makes it even more baffling why some labs detect the virus while others can't find a trace of it in any patient.<ref name="Science_Lo_resp">{{cite journal
In August 2010 researchers from the [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] and [[National Institutes of Health|NIH]] had reported in the journal [[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|PNAS]] that they had detected [[murine leukemia virus]]-like retrovirus gag gene sequences similar to polytropic MLVs and XMRVs in 87% of patients and 7% of blood donor controls. Although the study did not find XMRV as such, the authors conclude that their findings "clearly support the central argument" put forward in the original WPI/NCI/CC study, that MLV-related viruses are associated with CFS and are present in some blood donors. The authors also point out that none of the followup studies to date, including their own, have attempted to replicate all of the original study's multiple methods used to detect XMRV.<ref name=Lo/> A subsequent commentary in ''Science'' observed that even skeptics are impressed by how much care the authors of the new study took to ensure accuracy, but that makes it even more baffling why some labs easily detect the virus while others can't find a trace of it in any patient.<ref name="Science_Lo_resp">{{cite journal
|author = Martin Enserink
|author = Martin Enserink
| title = CFS: New XMRV Paper Looks Good, Skeptics Admit—Yet Doubts Linger
| title = CFS: New XMRV Paper Looks Good, Skeptics Admit—Yet Doubts Linger

Revision as of 07:30, 1 October 2010

Whittemore Peterson Institute
Founded2005
FounderAnnette Whittemore, Harvey Whittemore, and Daniel Peterson
TypeCharitable foundation and research institute
Location
Key people
President-Annette Whittmore
VP-Michael Hillerby
Research director-Judy Mikovits
Medical director-open
Biochemist-Vincent Lombardi
Celebrity spokesperson and advocate-Donnica Moore

The Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease (WPI) is a research institute and charitable foundation.[1] In 2009, researchers from the Whittemore Peterson Institute, the National Cancer Institute, and Cleveland Clinic authored a controversial[2][3][4][5] paper published in Science reporting an association between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and the retrovirus Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV).[6] Four follow-up studies have found no XMRV in CFS patients or controls.[7][8][9][10] One study did find evidence of MLV-like retroviruses in CFS patients.[11]

WPI was created by the parents of a CFS patient, Annette and Harvey Whittemore,[12] and by Daniel Peterson, an early researcher of the illness.[13] The institute is affiliated with the University of Nevada and is located in Reno, Nevada.[14] Judy Mikovits joined as research director in 2006.[12] WPI moved to a new research facility in the University of Nevada, Reno's Center for Molecular Medicine in August 2010.[15]

History

Annette Whittemore, co-founder and president of the institute, states that the inspiration for the institute comes from her daughter, Andrea Whittemore-Goad,[16] who was diagnosed with CFS at the age of twelve.[17] Whittemore stated that numerous doctors were unable to help her daughter, and that the first major improvement came ten years after her diagnosis when she was treated by Peterson with the experimental antiviral drug Ampligen.[18] Hemispherx's new drug application for Ampligen, which permits sale and marketing, was rejected by the FDA in December 2009 and the agency asked for another clinical study.[19] Interviewed by The New York Times, Whittemore said that "she had long believed that the syndrome was an infectious disease, but that scientists had rejected the idea."[12] Frustrated by a lack of answers for the illness, Whittemore decided that, "if there was a place of our own where we could find the answers, we could do it more quickly."[14] Her husband Harvey said that his wife also wanted to recognize Peterson for his history of treating the illness since 1984.[16]

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that the Whittemores and Peterson established the Whittemore-Peterson Institute in 2005 to aid patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and related illnesses.[16] Research at WPI began in 2006 with the opening of a small laboratory and an office on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, under the direction of Judy Mikovits.[12][16] WPI registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity in 2006.[1]

The Institute's new facility opened in August 2010 in the University of Nevada's Center for Molecular Medicine.[15] This 107,000 sq ft (9,900 m2) facility includes 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) for WPI office space, 8,800 sq ft (820 m2) for the Nevada Cancer Institute as well as shared research laboratories and vivarium.[20]

A detailed history behind the conception and funding of the institute as well as its ties to other medical institutions, including the University of Nevada’s Medical School and the Nevada Cancer Institute, has been written by President Annette Whittemore. A main suggestion is that non-traditional research entities will be most effective if they collaborate with more established entities.[21]

Organization

Annette Whittemore serves as president of the WPI. A new candidate is being sought for the position of medical director, formerly held by Peterson.[22] Mikovits is WPI's research director, previously working at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland for 22 years, during which time she earned a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and completed postdoctoral research. Her work included studies of HIV, HTLV-1, SIV infection, and other virus research.[23][24] Vincent Lombardi, lead investigator and co-author of the Science paper, is a biochemist who earned his PhD in protein chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2006.[6][25] Prior to receiving his PhD, he co-founded RedLabs USA, Inc., now VIP Dx. Donnica Moore is WPI's celebrity spokesperson and advocate.[26]

The Institute states they have developed a research unit composed of scientists from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Aging, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology and Kings College, UK.[27]

Mission

The WPI's stated mission is to "bring discovery, knowledge, and effective treatments to patients with illnesses that are caused by acquired dysregulation of both the immune system and the nervous system, often resulting in life long disease and disability."[28] They plan to research the pathophysiology of diseases such as ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, atypical multiple sclerosis and autism. Other goals include: facilitating and advancing patient care; developing diagnostics and prevention strategies; and advancing and supporting medical education and physician training.[29] The Institute considers such diseases "Neuro Immune Diseases", and posits that patients may share genetic susceptibilities, and have common aberrations in the innate immune response, manifesting in symptoms of disease. They intend to investigate the susceptibility in these patients to mechanisms of chronic immune system activation by infectious or environmental agents.[30] There is currently no expert consensus on the complete etiology of these diseases.

Mikovits has suggested that the Institute's look at CFS from a neuro-immune perspective could reap wider dividends. She states that WPI researchers are "beginning to realize their research program will have a significant impact on a much larger number of diseases with similar etiologies such as autism, epilepsy and MS".[18]

Funding and support

Initial funding for the institute was provided by the Whittemores,[18] who in 2004 committed $5 million and successfully lobbied the Nevada legislature for support and arranged an affiliation with their alma mater, the University of Nevada, Reno. The Nevada legislature agreed to provide $3 million to fund the institute,[31] and additional funding is provided by private donations.[12] $10 million was secured from the governor and legislature by the University of Nevada School of Medicine and the WPI for a new building at the University of Nevada's medical institute, where the WPI would share space.[12][32] Nevada senators John Ensign[33] and Harry Reid[34][35] have separately introduced legislation requesting federal funding for the institute.

Supplemental funding for WPI comes from the sale of diagnostic tests by Viral Immune Pathology Diagnostics (VIP Dx), which is owned by the Whittemore family, with all net proceeds donated to the WPI.[36][37] In September 2009, the WPI announced that Mikovits and collaborator Jonathan Kerr of St. George’s College in London had been awarded a $1.6 million, 5-year grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for their proposal to develop new "strategies to decipher the pathophysiology of chronic fatigue syndrome".[38]

Contradicting results and media coverage

Conflicting reports on XMRV and CFS

In 2009, researchers from the WPI, NCI and Cleveland Clinic reported in the journal Science that their study detected the DNA of a retrovirus known as xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) in 68 of 101 (67%) CFS patients, versus 8 of 218 (3.7%) healthy control subjects.[6][39] The WPI study was followed by worldwide media coverage, and Discover Magazine listed it as one of the top 100 stories of 2009.[5][40]

Mikovits has stated her opinion that the virus "undoubtedly causes some of the symptoms that are associated with" CFS,[41] but also notes that causation has not been proven.[42][43]

Four follow-up studies in the UK, USA and the Netherlands, published in 2010 in PLoS ONE, Retrovirology, and BMJ found no evidence of XMRV in 439 CFS patients or 491 controls.[7][9][10][44] The first set of contradicting results sparked what The Economist dubbed a transatlantic "fight"[2] and Discover Magazine covered as a "Scientist Smackdown".[45] Supporters of the two teams traded accusations of conflicts of interest, technical sloppiness and failure to care about patients.[2][3][4][45] The Reno Gazette and Journal reported that Mikovits stated the PLoS ONE study team biased their study so as to not find the virus in its samples, and that Mikovits "suspected insurance companies in the United Kingdom are behind attempts to sully the findings of the Reno study".[4]

In August 2010 researchers from the FDA and NIH had reported in the journal PNAS that they had detected murine leukemia virus-like retrovirus gag gene sequences similar to polytropic MLVs and XMRVs in 87% of patients and 7% of blood donor controls. Although the study did not find XMRV as such, the authors conclude that their findings "clearly support the central argument" put forward in the original WPI/NCI/CC study, that MLV-related viruses are associated with CFS and are present in some blood donors. The authors also point out that none of the followup studies to date, including their own, have attempted to replicate all of the original study's multiple methods used to detect XMRV.[11] A subsequent commentary in Science observed that even skeptics are impressed by how much care the authors of the new study took to ensure accuracy, but that makes it even more baffling why some labs easily detect the virus while others can't find a trace of it in any patient.[46]

XMRV testing

VIP Dx, under license from the WPI,[47] announced the introduction of a diagnostic test for XMRV shortly after the Science publication appeared.[48] VIP Dx now offers XMRV testing by virus culture and antibody testing.[49] Virologist John Coffin observed that the original paper established the virus neither as a cause of CFS nor as a viable marker, so Sam Kean in his Science news article noted that the utility of the test for a patient or a physician was unclear. VIP Dx asserts that it introduced its XMRV test as a more expert alternative after a different company began offering one.[3] Lombardi, who now acts as an unpaid consultant for VIP Dx in helping to set up and manage the testing program,[37] argues that the test is useful and that their 36% positive test results support the science in the original paper.[3]

Blood supply safety

Mikovits has stated that XMRV has, "almost certainly entered the U.S. blood supply system, but did not know whether it would be susceptible to the same heat treatments that successfully kill off the AIDS virus in blood products."[41] The online version of the Wall Street Journal has reported that WPI and other laboratories are participating in a United States federal working group to determine the prevalence of XMRV in the blood supply and the suitability of different detection methods. The WPI is also collecting blood from CFS patients who received their diagnosis after a blood transfusion and are planning to conduct their own study on XMRV blood transmission.[50]

The association of XMRV and CFS reported in Science prompted Health Canada,[41][51][52] the New Zealand Blood Service,[53] and The Australian Red Cross Blood Service[54] in 2010, to restrict individuals with CFS from donating blood. The American Association of Blood Banks, recommended in June 2010, actively discouraging persons diagnosed with CFS from donating blood or blood components.[55]

References

  1. ^ a b "Whittemore Peterson Institute Forneuro Immune Diseases". Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "A fight over the cause of a mysterious disease". The Economist. UK. 7 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d Sam Kean (15 Jan 2010). "An Indefatigable Debate Over Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". Science. 327 (5963): 254–255. doi:10.1126/science.327.5963.254. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |ur l= (help)
  4. ^ a b c Powers, Lenita (13 January 2010). "Reno researchers dispute British challenge to virus discovery". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  5. ^ a b Boseley, Sarah (6 January 2010). "Research casts doubt over US chronic fatigue virus claim. UK study fails to find proof of headline-grabbing American study into test for ME/CFS". The Guardian. UK.
  6. ^ a b c Lombardi VC, Ruscetti FW, Das Gupta J; et al. (2009). "Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome". Science. 326 (5952): 585–9. doi:10.1126/science.1179052. PMID 19815723. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Cite error: The named reference "pmid19815723" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Erlwein O, Kaye S, McClure MO; et al. (2010). "Failure to detect the novel retrovirus XMRV in chronic fatigue syndrome". PLoS ONE. 5 (1): e8519. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008519. PMC 2795199. PMID 20066031. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) Cite error: The named reference "PLoSOne" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Groom, Harriet C T; Boucherit, Virginie C; Makinson, Kerry; Randal, Edward; Baptista, Sarah; Hagan, Suzanne; Gow, John W; Mattes, Frank M; Breuer, Judith (2010). "Absence of xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in UK patients with chronic fatigue syndrome". Retrovirology. 7: 10. doi:10.1186/1742-4690-7-10.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  9. ^ a b van Kuppeveld FJ, Jong AS, Lanke KH; et al. (2010). "Prevalence of xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in the Netherlands: retrospective analysis of samples from an established cohort". BMJ. 340: c1018. PMC 2829122. PMID 20185493. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Cite error: The named reference "van_Kuppeveld" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Switzer WM, Jia H, Hohn O; et al. (2010). "Absence of evidence of Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related virus infection in persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and healthy controls in the United States". Retrovirology. 7 (1): 57. doi:10.1186/1742-4690-7-57. PMID 20594299. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  11. ^ a b Shyh-Ching Lo (2010). "Detection of MLV-related virus gene sequences in blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy blood donors". PNAS. doi:10.1073/pnas.1006901107.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Grady, Denise (11 October 2009). "A Big Splash From an Upstart Medical Center". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Hamilton, Jon (8 October 2009). "Virus Linked To Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". NPR. Retrieved 2010-03-14. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ a b Grady, Denise (12 October 2009). "Is a Virus the Cause of Fatigue Syndrome?". The New York Times.
  15. ^ a b "New UNR center to aid in fight against numerous afflictions". Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  16. ^ a b c d Powers, Lenita (1 November 2009). "Daughter's illness led family to seek help, start institute" (PDF). Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  17. ^ Marcus, Amy Dockser (12 October 2009). "Cancer-Causing Virus Linked to Chronic Fatigue". The Wall Street Journal.
  18. ^ a b c Johnson, Cort (20 April 2008). "Annette Whittemore and the Making of the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno". ProHealth.com. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  19. ^ George, John (Modified: Thursday, December 3, 2009). "FDA rejects Hemispherx's chronic fatigue drug Ampligen". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ These data are provided on the University of Nevada, School of Medicine Center for Molecular Medicine webpage and subsidiary FAQ and published architect's drawings
  21. ^ Annette Whittemore (2010). "The Whittemore Peterson Institute: Building Bridges through Private and Public Sector Collaboration". molecular interventions. 10 (3): 120–126. doi:10.1124/mi.10.3.1. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  22. ^ WPI Medical Director Dr. Daniel Peterson returning to full-time patient care/research as planned, search for successor begins
  23. ^ National Cancer Institute biography
  24. ^ Frost, Nicole. "Whittemore Peterson Institute researcher makes major breakthrough in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" (PDF). Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  25. ^ WPI: "Research Profiles"
  26. ^ Donnica Moore (08 Feb 2010). "Whittemore Peterson Institute Announces Renowned Health Expert as New Spokesperson Dr. Donnica Moore joins the institute as spokesperson and advocate". Retrieved 11 Feb 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "ABOUT THE WHITTEMORE PETERSON INSTITUTE" (PDF). Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  28. ^ "Consortium of Researchers Discover Retroviral Link to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". NIH News - National Institutes of Health - US Department of Health and Human Services. Thursday, October 8, 2009. Retrieved 24 Feb 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Our Mission". Whittemore Peterson Institute. Retrieved 24 Feb 2010.
  30. ^ WPI research statement
  31. ^ Hagar, Ray (7 June 2007). "Washoe projects receive funding". The Reno Gazette Journal. Reno, Nevada.
  32. ^ http://www.medicine.nevada.edu/cmm/
  33. ^ Ensign earmarks
  34. ^ Reid Press Release, 13 December 2009
  35. ^ Nevada Sen. Reid lists nearly $100 million in projects to Nevada (Television News). Reno, Nevada: KRNV News 4. 14 December 2009.
  36. ^ XMRV testing, CFIDS.org
  37. ^ a b http://www.wpinstitute.org/news/docs/WPI%20Release%20Diagnostic%20Test.pdf
  38. ^ "Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro Immune Disease, In The News". Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  39. ^ Lombardi VC, Ruscetti FW, Das Gupta J; et al. (2009). "Supporting Online Material for Detection of an Infectious Retrovirus, XMRV, in Blood Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". Science. 326 (5952): 585–9. doi:10.1126/science.1179052. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ Neimark, Jill, "Top 100 Stories of 2009 #55: Virus Invades Human Genome and Causes... Chronic Fatigue?", Discover, Jan-Feb 2010 (Special)
  41. ^ a b c Virus leads Canadian Blood Services to ban certain donors Joseph Hall, The Hamilton Spectator, 06 April 2010.
  42. ^ Grady, Denise (October 8, 2009). "Virus Is Found in Many With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  43. ^ http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091008/full/news.2009.983.html
  44. ^ Harriet C T Groom; et al. (2010). "Absence of xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in UK patients with chronic fatigue syndrome" (PDF). Retrovirology. 7. doi:10.1186/1742-4690-7-10. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  45. ^ a b "Scientist Smackdown: Is a Virus Really the Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?". 80beats, Discover Magazine. Discover Magazine. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  46. ^ Martin Enserink (27 August 2010). "CFS: New XMRV Paper Looks Good, Skeptics Admit—Yet Doubts Linger". Science. 329 (5995): 1000. doi:10.1126/science.329.5995.1000. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |ur l= (help)
  47. ^ "Whittemore Peterson Institute Announces Availability of Updated XMRV Testing" (PDF). Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  48. ^ "Diagnostic Test for Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related Virus" (Press release). VIP Dx. 23 Oct 2009. Retrieved 2 Feb 2010.
  49. ^ [1]
  50. ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303450704575160081295988608.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
  51. ^ CBC
  52. ^ Canadian Blood Services Responds to Possible New Blood Safety Threat
  53. ^ Atkinson, K (2010-04-21). "Chronic Fatigue Set To Disqualify Blood Donors". Voxy.co.nz. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  54. ^ Blood Service updates CFS donor policy
  55. ^ http://www.aabb.org/pressroom/Pages/cfsrecommendation.aspx
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