The Search for an ME Biomarker (Introduction)

Music to communicate research progress and experiences of a medical condition.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) causes severe exhaustion, musculoskeletal pain, sleep, memory and concentration difficulties and influenza-like symptoms. As a composer with the condition, Ricky Chaggar composed new music on the topic of a recent scientific ME study, aiming to raise awareness of its symptoms and highlighting recent scientific research in the area. Unfortunately, misinformation and stigma persist, despite ME being recognised as a serious medical condition which severely impacts daily life.

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The music also forms part of his portfolio for his PhD in music composition at Anglia Ruskin University.

The Study

Professor Lidbury at The Australian National University, has lead research into biological differences between those with and without the condition.(1) A particular study focused on differences regarding the levels of a protein called activin B. Significant differences were found, pointing to activin B as a potential biomarker for the condition. Although there is no cure for ME, identifying biomarkers may lead to a better understanding about the illness and potentially, treatments.

ME is sometimes called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), although ‘fatigue’ is not suggestive of the debilitating impact of the condition and may also draw focus away from the many other symptoms that ME sufferers experience.

The Music

The Music is composed for string quartet. This instrumentation is particularly effective at expressing strong emotions, such as that which is manifest from living with ME symptoms. Strings also offer versatility in being capable of communicating scientific themes, such as the technology used in the study.

It consists of two sections (or in musical terms: two movements). Can’t Stand Standing communicates the difficulties caused by ME symptoms. Data from the study was linked to certain musical features. The second movement, Machine Learning does not use data, but solely composition techniques to communicate the topic. It also conveys hope for the future, as scientific advances might lead to treatment and perhaps one day, a cure. The movements do not need to be listened to in order.

As there are many ways in which the music and scientific study are connected, and therefore much detail, the full in-depth account will be presented within Ricky’s thesis. You can learn about some of the music-science connections and hear the music by selecting (Details) from the menu.

(1) Lidbury, B.A., Kita, B., Richardson, A.M., Lewis, D.P., Privitera, E., Hayward, S., de Kretser, D. and Hedger, M., 2019. Rethinking ME/CFS Diagnostic Reference Intervals via Machine Learning, and the Utility of Activin B for Defining Symptom Severity. Diagnostics, 9(3), p.79. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics9030079.