A TEAM from Oxford University is leading pioneering research into developing a blood test for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Scientists at Oxford are working with others from Newcastle University to analyse nearly 300 blood samples to find similarities in the cells of patients with ME.

The condition causes long periods of exhaustion that do not go away with sleep, as well as muscular and joint pain, sensitivity to light and noise, headaches and difficulty in organising thoughts - known as 'brain fog'. Little is known about what causes it and at present there is no cure.

Over the next 12 months the Oxford team will look for similarities in the cells of patients diagnosed with ME to help identify a test, and eventually a cure.

The £50,000 project is being funded by the ME Association, which supports some of the estimated 250,000 people in the UK with the condition.

Oxford University's Dr Karl Morten is an expert in studying mitochondria, the cell fuel generator in health and disease, working on the project.

He said: "I'm 52 and I’ve been looking for a clinical problem which I can invest the last ten to 15 years of my research career to really make a difference.

"It would be fantastic if that was to make a difference to the lives of ME patients worldwide."