About IACFS/ME

Mission Statement

The mission of the IACFS/ME is to promote, stimulate and coordinate the exchange of ideas related to CFS, ME and fibromyalgia (FM) research, patient care and treatment.

In addition, the IACFS/ME periodically reviews the current research and treatment literature and media reports for the benefit of scientists, clinicians and patients. The IACFS/ME also conducts and/or participates in local, national, and international scientific conferences. This is to promote and evaluate new research, and to encourage future research ventures and cooperative activities. All this is carried out as part of the effort to advance scientific and clinical knowledge of these illnesses.

The IACFS/ME shall at all times be organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes as a qualified exempt organization described under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1986 and the regulations promulgated thereunder as they may now exist or as they may be hereafter amended.

TAX ID: 73-1416680

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Leadership

Board of Directors

Fred Friedberg, PhD
President, Chair-Fund Raising Committee

Research Associate Professor (Psychiatry)
Putnam Hall/South Campus
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York 11794-8790, USA

Staci R. Stevents, MA
Co-Vice President, Chair-Membership Committee

Program Director
Workwell Foundation
PO Box 1435
Ripon, CA, USA

Lily Chu, MD, MSHS
Co-Vice President

Burlingame, CA, USA

Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, PhD
Board Member

Gold Coast, Australia

Luis Nacul, MBBS, PhD
Board Member

London, England
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Charles Lapp,
Board Member

Hunter-Hopkins Center

Charlotte, NC , USA

Dr. Lapp received his medical degree from the Albany Medical College, and took his residency program at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He has practiced internal medicine and pediatrics in North Carolina since 1978, and began researching CFS and FM in 1985 following an epidemic in Raleigh. He has had over 30 years of experience treating these disorders, and has been Assisting Consulting Professor of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University from 1982-2016.

He is active in both civic and professional activities. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners.

Dr. Lapp has been a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and was tapped by Secretary Tommy Thompson of the Department of Health & Human Services to advise the federal government on CFS-related issues.

Dr. Lapp has written numerous articles and has spoken widely. He co-authored the Center for Disease Control Provider Program on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, several book chapters on CFS/FM, a section on disability for Lexus-Nexus, the IACFS “Primer for Clinical Practitioners,” “A Framework for Fibromyalgia Management,” as well as two MedScape programs on diagnosing and treating CFS. He was a reviewer for the National Academies of Medicine IOM report (2015), “Beyond Myalgic Encephalopathy and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness.”

He has been the medical advisor to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association of America, the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association, and the National Fibromyalgia Association; and a board member of the International Association for CFS and FM (IACFS).

Dr. Lapp has also served as primary research investigator and speaker for Pfizer (Lyrica), Lilly (Cymbalta), Forest (Savella), Cephalon (Provigil), Hemispherx (Ampligen), Pro Health (Transfer Factor) , and several other pharmaceutical companies. He has produced national webcasts for Pfizer, and served as a fibromyalgia consultant for Pfizer.

Dr. Lapp is currently the Medical Director of the Hunter-Hopkins Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hunter-Hopkins Center is one of the few medical practices in the United States to specialize in treating CFS, FM, and related disorders.

Complete Curriculum Vitae can be viewed at http://drlapp.com/staff/curriculum-vitae-charles-w-lapp-md/

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

What is CFS/ME (ME/CFS)?

Chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis (also known as CFS/ME or ME/CFS) is a common, chronic, disabling condition which affects millions of people worldwide. It often starts after an infection. People affected by ME/CFS frequently experience

chronic, severe fatigue;
problems with sleep;
difficulty thinking; and
feeling sick if they sit or stand up for a while.
The hallmark symptom of ME/CFS is post-exertional malaise, worsening of these symptoms and other ones after mild physical, cognitive, emotional activity or changes in position.

While there is no single, easily accessible test to diagnose this condition nor any current treatments specific to ME/CFS, there are still many steps clinicians and patients can take to improve a patient's symptoms, function, and quality of life.

What is IACFS/ME?

IACFS/ME is an international, non-profit organization of scientific, medical, and other professionals dedicated to the care and research of people affected by ME/CFS and related conditions. Since 1990, IACFS/ME has worked to assure that medical care, research priorities, healthcare policy, and medical education related to ME/CFS are informed by the best and most current science. To reach these goals, we hold regular scientific conferences, publish a quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal (Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health, and Behavior), author/ support influential position statements, and participate in medical education efforts.

How can I get involved in IACFS/ME?

There are many ways to get involved in and support IACFS/ME!

Join us as a Professional or Associate member! Membership comes with a number of benefits. Patients and their supporters are welcomed to join as Associate members. More about membership.
Subscribe to and read our quarterly journal. Membership includes free or heavily discounted access. You do not have to be a member to subscribe however. More about Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health, and Behavior.
Donate money. Funds help us hold conferences, provide travel awards to young/ new researchers, support this website and assist with other activities.
Come to one of our conferences! Don't forget to invite your colleagues!
Volunteer! We are always looking for people who are enthusiastic about our mission. Volunteer activities can be tailored to your interests and time/ energy availability. Since we are an international non-profit, most volunteering activities can be done remotely from anywhere in the world. If you are interested, contact us at iacfsmeorg@gmail.com
Participate in writing, editing, or reviewing article(s) for our journal. To submit an article, see this link. To find out more about editing or reviewing, contact iacfsmeorg@gmail.com.
Tell others about our activities! Share information from our website, journal, and conferences with your colleagues and friends. Ask them to join IACFS/ME.

How to Contact

The International Association for CFS/ME
7918 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102, USA

Telephone: 301-634-7701
Fax: 703-506-3266
Email: iacfsmeorg@gmail.com

Quick Links

2021 Conference Main Page

2020 Conference Summaries

2016 Conference Syllabus

Clinician Primer

About IACFS/ME

Mission Statement

Get Involved!

Leadership

Board of Directors

Fred Friedberg, PhD President, Chair-Fund Raising Committee

Fred Frieberg, PhD

Staci R. Stevents, MA Co-Vice President, Chair-Membership Committee

Staci R. Stevens, MA

Lily Chu, MD, MSHS Co-Vice President

Lily Chu, MD, MSHS

Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, PhD Board Member

Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Phd

Luis Nacul, MBBS, PhD Board Member

Luis Nacul, MBBS, PhD

Charles Lapp, Board Member