The City of Vienna is investing two million euros into ME/CFS research, marking the largest individual grants for the condition in Austria. Mayor Michael Ludwig and the WE&ME Foundation announced two 36-month projects led by MedUni Vienna researchers.
Lukas Haider is investigating energy supply issues in the brain and muscles, while Matthias Wielscher is screening genetic data for rare diseases. These efforts address a crisis affecting 80,000 Austrians who currently lack causal therapies or biomarkers.
With 60 percent of patients unable to work, Vienna is also expanding clinical care. A specialized outpatient clinic will open in 2027, followed by a full PAIS center in 2028 to treat post-acute infection syndromes including Post COVID and ME/CFS cases.