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Nova Southeastern To Treat People With Chronic Fatigue, Gulf War Illness

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami/AP) – This March a new institute will open in South Florida to treat patients with neuro-immune conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and Gulf War Illness.

Nova Southeastern University's College of Osteopathic Medicine will also be the first in the nation to study neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's Disease and multiple sclerosis using the newest genomic techniques. By studying individual genes and what they code for, the institute's scientists will better understand the cause and point to new ways to treat these complex disorders.

"It will be a place to coordinate cutting edge thinking and research, train new practitioners, and offer the highest quality clinical care for a hugely underserved population. We are thrilled to take this giant step forward in the field of CFS/ME and Gulf War Illness care and research," said the institute's director Nancy Klimas, M.D.

Patients will be given exercises to measure which genes turn on or off. Researchers will also study the causes of relapse and illness persistence. Experts say this research will help scientists develop new medications to treat these illnesses.

The institute plans to treat about 1,300 patients.   Nova is partnering with the Miami VA Medical Center in the Gulf War Illness research program.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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