News

Latest developments

Here you will find the latest news from ItsME Foundation, including recent articles, social media posts, videos, interviews, and updates about meningitis and encephalitis research.

Image
31 March 2026
Research project ‘Identifying new pathogenic antibodies leading to autoimmune encephalitis’ successfully completed

Team Human Tech, in collaboration with Erasmus MC and under the supervision of Dr Oliver Harschnitz, has created a new model of human brain cells from the cerebral cortex to better understand what happens in autoimmune encephalitis and to test antibodies from patients.

Image
1 March 2026
Registration for Run with ME now open

On 31 May 2026, students from Rotterdam, together with ItsME, organise the Run with ME. It is more than just a running event. It is about getting active together for people affected by encephalitis or meningitis.

Image
22 February 2026
World Encephalitis Day – 22 February 2026

A day to reflect on encephalitis

In the media

NOS News
Actress Daveigh Chase, voice of Disney's Lilo, dies aged 35
RTL News
Ingeborg lost her daughter to meningococcal disease: “Mum, I don’t feel very well”
France Today
Meningitis outbreak in France: 34 cases and a large-scale vaccination campaign
RTL News
Risk of a British meningococcal outbreak on the European mainland is low
NOS
Number of cases from meningococcal outbreak rising, British youths queuing for vaccine
Amsterdam UMC
Vici grant awarded to neurologist Matthijs Brouwer for study into brain infections
AD
Meningitis is rare, but can be very dangerous: 'See a doctor if you have this symptom'
AD
Meningococcal outbreak among British students
RTL News
Luka died from meningococcal B
NOS
Faster test to detect life-threatening bacterial meningitis
NPO3
Lindsey lost her one-year-old daughter to meningitis: “The GP advised paracetamol”
EenVandaag
Number of meningococcal deaths rising dramatically
Omroep Brabant
Coen and Devany suddenly lost their daughter: ‘Our world fell apart’
Bruzz
ULB student died of meningitis
AD
Seven young children have died; paediatricians warn of dangerous bacteria
Right to Left
Parents fail to recognise deadly meningitis: ‘We thought it was just a mild flu’
Rijnmond.nl
Boy (13) died following hospital errors: ‘Healthcare providers were misled’
Marriage
Rock guitarist Jeff Beck (78) died after meningitis
VRT
17-year-old boy died from meningitis
Nu.nl
Sammie (1) died of meningitis
Dutch Daily Newspaper
“A quick jab and Sammie (1) would still be alive”
Omroep Brabant
‘It was hell on earth’, mother of deceased student calls for meningococcal vaccination
Parents of Today
Baby died of meningitis