The Problem
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the US with approximately 500,000 new cases every year. The geographic range of the tick-borne epidemic is expanding as infected ticks spread into new regions.
Most people with early diagnosed and treated Lyme disease recover, but 10-20% experience ongoing multisystem illness that significantly impairs their quality of life. Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis and treatment can also lead to prolonged and debilitating illness.
Lyme disease costs our medical system over a billion dollars per year.
The Need for Research
Human clinical research is urgently needed to expand knowledge of Lyme disease biological mechanisms, answer unknown questions, and improve upon current diagnostic tests and therapies.
The Solution
Human Clinical Research
Our clinical research program has produced human blood and tissue specimens that are crucial to improving the understanding of Lyme disease and its varied manifestations.
Our Center has established a robust biorepository of well-characterized samples from patients with all stages of Lyme disease. These valuable biologic samples are the cornerstone to innovative multidisciplinary research collaborations with leading worldwide academic, scientific, and medical investigators. Our landmark SLICE studies (Studies of Lyme disease Immunology and Clinical Events) provide important insights into disease processes and avenues for innovation.
We are grateful to all of the patients who have participated in the SLICE studies as well as in our Center’s numerous other studies. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We are urgently working on your behalf towards solutions.
Research Goals
Our goal is to advance understanding of the complex pathophysiology of Lyme disease and translate findings into improved patient healthcare.
Chronic Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis that encompasses a range of biological processes and disease manifestations. Our research establishes well-defined research subgroups within the chronic Lyme disease umbrella as an essential foundation for improving the understanding of this complex heterogeneous illness.
Our research is helping understand the potential roles of immune dysfunction, inflammation, persistent bacterial infection, neural network alteration, and other biological processes in driving ongoing illness.
Improving disease understanding of the biology of the infection and the human immune response is enabling the development of more accurate diagnostics, more effective treatments, and working towards tests that can monitor treatment success or failure. Additionally, characterizing the symptom illness experience is informing and improving the clinical understanding of chronic Lyme disease.
Our interdisciplinary approach investigates all stages and types of Lyme disease. We engage in a range of basic science, clinical, and epidemiologic research initiatives across disciplines including infectious disease, rheumatology, neurology, psychiatry, and immunology.
We strive for a future where accurate diagnosis and effective treatment will bring better outcomes and new hope to Lyme disease patients and their families
Currently Recruiting Research Studies
- Have you been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease or do you have a rash that you think may be Lyme disease?
- Do you have a history of Lyme disease and continue to have persistent symptoms after treatment?
- Or, perhaps, are you interested in participating as a healthy control?
Please click here for more information and to see if you may be eligible for one of our studies!
