Our Story
The Simmaron story finds it roots in the medical practice and leadership of Daniel L. Peterson, M.D., who has been providing clinical care, conducting research, and building a one-of-a-kind biobank for ME/CFS patients spanning almost 40 years.
1984, Incline Village
Dr. Peterson’s interest in ME/CFS was sparked in 1984 when Incline Village became the site of an unusual cluster of individuals presenting with unexplained flu-like symptoms that would not go away. Test after test ruled out the common causes of these symptoms and the degree of severity at which some individuals were experiencing symptoms was startling. Fresh out of residency, Dr. Peterson was perhaps the first to recognize these symptoms as something deserving of more attention. The young physician began a line of inquiry that would last for the duration of his career.
Although his earliest calls to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) went largely unanswered, Dr. Peterson refused to give up. He drew on every resource at his disposal in an attempt to make sense of what his patients were experiencing. Dr. Peterson’s dedication to examining the manifestations of ME/CFS led him to collect biological samples from patients and keep detailed data files that span decades. Thanks to Dr. Peterson’s foresight, we now have access to a rich repository of biological samples and data records. These samples have proven invaluable in the development of collaborative pilot studies on the disease that eventually became known in the medical research community as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
Building upon the wealth of knowledge and data Dr. Peterson has gathered and the approach of internationally recognized scientists eager to collaborate, the Simmaron Research foundation was formed in 2011. The foundation seeks to raise funds for the advancement of scientific research which holds the potential to improve treatment and care for individuals suffering from ME/CFS and other immune dysfunction diseases. To date, the foundation has contributed to the publication of over 30 journal articles and Dr. Peterson is now regarded as one of the leading experts in his field of study.
The Simmaron Research foundation funds professionals in various roles, all of which are geared toward improving support for and understanding of ME/CFS and the patient community impacted by the disease. For more information on Simmaron’s past and current publications, please further explore the website.
