Our Crowdfunding Groups
As of now, the crowdfunder has reached 93% of the goal, with more than 500 donations. We'll see what happens in this final stretch. Over the years, I've tried to provide a good return on investment. For anyone still looking to donate this time around, here's the link:
https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
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I'm so touched that the crowdfunder has reached 85% of the goal, with 450 donations, even in fhese very difficult times. In the middle of the campaign, it looked like it might fall far shorter than that. I want to make clear I will certainly continue the project at full speed, even if the full goal isn't reached. In that event, my Berkeley position will get reduced to 60% time from the current 70% time and I'll scrounge about for a bit more outside work.
Having said that, if you'd still like to contribute this time around, here's the link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
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It’s been five years, more or less, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic–and the subsequent wave of Long Covid. Today I posted an interview with Jaime Seltzer, #MEAction's scientific director, about how early links were forged between advocates for people with ME and those experiencing what became known as Long Covid, what we’ve learned since, and where things are now. Seltzer was included on Time magazine’s list of the 100 “most influential people in health in 2024.”
With four days left, Berkeley's crowdfunder has reached 67% of the goal. If you'd like to support the project this time around, here's the link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
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If you're from one of those countries (or from another country!!!), and want to help me keep on rebutting bad research, here's the link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
Thanks to all past, current and future donors. I've tried to offer a good return on investment over the years.
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Thanks to all past, current and future donors for the support!! If you'd like to help out this time around, here's the link:
https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
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PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW--THAT TAKES YOU BACK TO A PAST CAMPAIGN.
These campaigns seem to ebb and flow, with a slow period in the middle and a push at the end. We'll see how it goes this time. If you'd like to continue to support my work and haven't yet done so this time around (or even if you have), here's the link:
https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
Thanks to all past, present and future donors!--David
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My exuberant tearing-up of the PACE trial and tossing the pieces into the air was captured on video during an evening talk I gave one year (2017) at the Invest in ME conference, held annually in London.
I've retired that particular bit of academic performance art (unless it is specifically requested) but continue to irritate the GET/CBT ideological brigades by pushing for better science. If you'd like to support my efforts this time around, here's the link:
https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
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PLEASE DON'T CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW. THAT LINKS BACK TO A PAST CAMPAIGN.
Each notice seems to trigger a few more donations...If you'd like to support Trial By Error this time around, here's the link:
https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
PLEASE DON'T CLICK THE "READ UPDATE'" BUTTON BELOW. THAT TAKES YOU BACK TO A PAST CAMPAIGN.
Alem Matthees is the Australian patient whose freedom-of-information request for the raw PACE trial data ultimately led to a tribunal decision in his favor, in 2016. Subsequent reanalyses documented what patients already knew: PACE was a fraudulent piece of crap. I saw Alem a couple of weeks ago during my recent visit to Australia.
Here is an account of our visits.
The current campaign has reached almost 30% of the goal, with more than 150 donations. If you'd like to support Trial By Error this time around, here is the link:
https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
PLEASE DO NOT CLICK THE 'READ UPDATE' BUTTON BELOW. That will take you back to a past campaign.
Neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan has been conducting a media blitz for her new book, “The Age of Diagnosis: How Our Obsession with Medical Labels Is Making Us Sicker.” O’Sullivan has long been a major promotor of psycho-behavioral explanations for complex illnesses. In the SARS-CoV-2 era, it should not be surprising that she has now scooped up Long Covid and incorporated it into her expansive psychosomatic worldview. Here's my take.
If you'd like to support my work, here's the link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
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Please DO NOT click on the "READ UPDATE" button below. That goes back to a previous campaign.
Dear Trial By Error Supporter...After three days, the campaign is at 6% of the goal:
https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
Please do not click on the "READ UPDATE" button below--that goes back to an earlier campaign.
Here's the link: https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/46120
Thank you!
Please don't click on the "READ UPDATE" button below. That goes to a past campaign.
Dear Trial By Error supporter--
A year ago, I indicated that I would likely end my Trial By Error project—or at least this phase of it—in June of this year. After sending messages to every single donor from last spring’s crowdfunding and hearing back from many, I decided to continue for one more year. I’ll be 70 in October, 2026, and plan to retire from Berkeley at that time. That means I’ll do another crowdfunding in April, and one again in the fall, and after that will likely call it a day. Again, as I indicated last year, I leave myself room to change my mind. But at this point, that’s the plan.
As everyone can see, it is a very, very challenging environment in the U.S., with the country descending into a dystopian nightmare. The federal government is slashing and abandoning public health and medical research programs right and left. Like all major research universities, the University of California, including Berkeley, is on the Trump list of targets.
As I have always made clear, crowdfunding is the least favorite part of what I do. But I now find myself in a peculiar situation. Unlike many of my colleagues at Berkeley and elsewhere, I have a source of funding that can’t be cancelled by the federal government. I am heartsick at these developments, as is every sane person I know—both in the U.S. and elsewhere. It goes without saying that I am also extremely grateful to everyone whose generosity over the years has helped me continue with this project.
I am currently in Australia for a few weeks—a blissful escape from the onslaught of bad news back home. Last week, my colleague and friend Dr David Joffe and I gave a joint presentation at the Kirby Institute, a prominent research center at the University of New South Wales. Dr Joffe spoke about the pathophysiology and economic burden of Long Covid. I spoke about the deeply flawed research into psycho-behavioral treatments—specifically, the PACE trial for ME/CFS and last year’s REGAIN trial for Long Covid. The presentation has so far been viewed 1500 times.
This week I met with the folks at Emerge Australia, a national ME/CFS organization, and next week I’m heading out to Perth to spend some time with the heroic Alem Matthees and his family. Alem is the patient whose successful but arduous effort to liberate the raw PACE trial data from the clutches of Queen Mary University of London ruined what remained of his health.
(To be clear—Berkeley provides no funds for travel expenses. I cover my own costs for work-related overseas trips, although sometimes I have received reimbursement for in-country transportation and lodging, as happened last fall on my six-city tour of Ireland. Occasionally, I accept offers to crash in someone’s spare room or on their couch.)
I will return from Australia on April 3rd. The April crowdfunding is scheduled to start after I get back home, on April 5th. rather than on April 1st.
Thanks again for the amazing support—especially in these extremely difficult and confusing times.
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PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE "READ UPDATE" BUTTON BELOW. THAT TAKES YOU BACK TO A PAST CAMPAIGN.
Dear Donors--
Thanks once again for investing in Berkeley's Trial By Error project--the support received through these crowdfunding campaigns is what allows me to continue with this work. The Fall '24 campaign came to a successful conclusion, with a total of 573 donations. Although I doubt I will have the bandwidth to be able to send individual messages to every donor, as I did the last round, I truly appreciate the vote of confidence,
I've just returned to the US after a few weeks away. Like everyone, I'm trying to brace myself for today's events, and what comes after.
Thanks again--David
The end of the month is nigh! The campaign is closing in on 400 donations and is at 72% of the goal. In recent past campaigns the number of donations has hovered on either side of 500. If you'd like to support my work this time around, now's the time!
In case you missed them, I have posted three videos in the last few days. You can view my interview with University of Edinburgh geneticist Chris Ponting here and Guardian columnist George Monbiot here. And here is actress Jennie Jacques' interview with Monbiot and me.
Here's the link to Berkeley's current crowdfunding campaign:
https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/43450
Thanks to all past, current and future donors!!!
Please DO NOT click on the "Read Update" button below. That takes you back to a past campaign.
