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.
Timely diagnosis and effective treatments are problems for many. Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged and debilitating illness. Most people with early treated Lyme disease recover. However, many previously healthy and productive individuals struggle with ongoing illness that significantly impairs their quality of life.
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 biologic mechanisms, answer unknown questions, and improve upon current diagnostic tests and therapies.
The Solution
Human Clinical Research
Our clinical research program has produced human biologic 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 blood and skin tissue samples from patients with all stages of Lyme disease. These valuable 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) are providing 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 biologic 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 aimed at determining the potential roles of immune dysfunction, inflammation, persistent bacterial infection, neural network alteration, and other biologic processes in driving ongoing illness.
Improving disease understanding of the biology of the infection and the human immune response will enable the development of more accurate diagnostics, more effective treatments, as well as tests that can monitor treatment success or failure. Characterizing the symptom illness experience can inform and improve the clinical understanding of chronic Lyme disease.
Our longer term goal is to expand interdisciplinary models to investigate all stages and types of Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses. We are currently engaged in a range of basic science, clinical, and epidemiologic research initiatives to achieve this goal.
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!
