The funding arrives as health authorities note that between 70,000 and 80,000 people live with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome nationwide. That total exceeds the population affected by multiple sclerosis. Approximately 60 percent of those patients face partial work incapacity, while about a quarter remain bound to their homes or beds. Despite those figures, medical providers have historically offered limited research and no causal treatments. Myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome is a severe neurological disease that has long been underestimated and frequently occurs after viral infections, including after COVID-19. Many of those affected have spent years fighting for a diagnosis, recognition, and medical support. Vienna is taking the concerns of those affected seriously and acting.
Consolidation Grants Target Energy Failure and Genetics
The Vienna Science, Research and Technology Fund, alongside the WE&ME Stiftung of the Ströck family, has directed roughly 3.1 million euros toward ME/CFS research in Vienna since 2024. The ME-RESET project receives 999,930 euros under the direction of Lukas Haider, Martin Krššák, and Katharina Kollndorfer to examine oxygen-starved energy production in the brain and muscles using multi-organ MRI and MR spectroscopy. A second initiative led by Matthias Wielscher and Kathryn Hoffmann secures 999,169 euros to scan for genetic roots via whole-genome sequencing and establish a dedicated ME/CFS board for rare diseases. Both funded projects are designed for a duration of 36 months each. The ME-RESET project investigates whether the failure of energy supply in the brain and muscles can be partially reversed. An international jury selected the projects, with a new element being that affected scientists also participated in the evaluation as patient experts.
New PAIS Center Set for Floridsdorf in 2027
Alongside laboratory investigations, Vienna is constructing a specialized out-patient facility to manage post-acute infection syndromes, including ME/CFS and Post COVID. The PAIS Center will open inside the Diabeteszentrum Donaufeld in Floridsdorf’s 21st district, with organizational ties to the Klinik Hietzing. Vienna is the third Austrian federal province, following Salzburg and the Burgenland, to establish such an out-patient clinic. Initial operations begin in the summer of 2027 before reaching full capacity by mid-2028. The clinic requires 6.7 million euros in capital investment and 3.8 million euros annually for operations. Around 20 full-time positions across medicine, therapy, and psychosocial care will staff the low-stimulus, barrier-free facility.
Diagnostic Criteria and Patient Screening Procedures
The upcoming Floridsdorf clinic will operate strictly by appointment for moderate to severe cases, requiring a confirmed diagnosis and a referral from a general practitioner or specialist. Appointments are assigned based on urgency. The facility features a specialized cot system for severely affected patients arriving in a lying or sitting position, backed by emergency beds across the Vienna Healthcare Group when acute care is necessary. Additionally, telemedicine is intended to be utilized, with follow-up appointments planned at intervals of roughly two months for moderate and severe cases.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Vienna ME/CFS Initiatives
The Vienna Science, Research and Technology Fund and the WE&ME Stiftung are jointly providing the funding through two consolidation grants of roughly one million euros each, selected by an international jury that included patient-experts.
How many staff members will work at the new PAIS Center in Floridsdorf?
The specialized facility will employ around 20 professionals specializing in neurology, internal medicine, therapy, psychology, and social work.
What is the total financial commitment for the PAIS Center?
The city is investing 6.7 million euros to establish the clinic at the Diabeteszentrum Donaufeld and has allocated 3.8 million euros per year for its ongoing operations.