Sonya Chowdhury has been Chief Executive of UK-based charity, Action for M.E. for 10 years. Action for M.E. provides direct information and support, individual advocacy and healthcare services to children and adults with M.E. while also supporting families and professionals working with them. The Charity also works to raise the profile of ME and secure change for the future through its public affairs and research activity. Its ambitious Breakthrough-ME research strategy also includes the first Genetic Centre of Excellence, a virtual collaboration, which it has launched in partnership with Prof Chris Ponting, MRC Human genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh. Sonya is a Co-Investigator on the world’s largest ME study, DecodeME and Chairs its Management Group as well as a founding, Co-Chair of the World ME Alliance. Sonya also has a son with M.E. who became ill a year after she joined the Charity.