2025 UCSD Essay Contest Winners

2025 UCSD Graduate Student ME/CFS Essay Contest Winners

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2025 UCSD Graduate Student ME/CFS Essay Contest! This contest invited graduate students to submit essays exploring innovative ideas, research, and advocacy surrounding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The winning essays demonstrate the power of interdisciplinary thinking in raising awareness, improving medical care, and driving meaningful change for those affected by ME/CFS.

First Place: Emily Lam

Essay Title: "Making a Difference in the Lives of ME/CFS Patients with Nanomedicine"
Emily Lam's essay highlights the groundbreaking potential of nanomedicine in transforming the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ME/CFS. By leveraging the unique properties of nanoparticles, Emily explores how this cutting-edge technology could help identify ME/CFS earlier, improve therapeutic delivery, and provide more effective treatments to manage the complex, chronic illness.

Second Place: Benjamin Lam

Essay Title: "Breaking the Cycle of Restless Restfulness"
Benjamin Lam's essay advocates for increasing public awareness and enacting structural reforms to better support individuals living with ME/CFS. His thoughtful piece calls for systemic changes in healthcare, education, and public policy, stressing the importance of addressing the challenges that ME/CFS patients face, from diagnosis to treatment.