Project Lyme

🧪 What if we could stop Lyme disease before it ever reaches people?

New research by Dr. Janakiram Seshu and his team at The University of Texas at San Antonio — partially funded by Project Lyme, the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, and others — tested an innovative strategy that targets the small mammals that naturally carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

The researchers used Borrelia lipoproteins with transmission-blocking properties to immunize mice. The mice were then exposed to ticks carrying the Lyme disease bacterium and remained uninfected.

Because ticks often carry multiple pathogens, the researchers are also exploring whether similar strategies could help prevent other tick-borne diseases, including babesiosis and anaplasmosis.

While more research is needed, this new approach could help interrupt the Lyme disease cycle at its source and reduce the risk of future infections.

🔗 Read more about the science: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/iai.00210-26

Bay Area Lyme Foundation

✨ ADVOCACY WIN FOR THE LYME COMMUNITY ✨

There’s encouraging news from Washington, D.C., this week: Thanks to the tireless efforts of our advocacy partner, the Center for Lyme Action, our fellow Lyme organizations, and patient advocates like you, the House Appropriations Committee has approved significant funding increases for Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, and other tick-borne disease programs.

Highlights include:

✔️ +$10M for NIH Lyme and tick-borne disease research
✔️ +$1M for CDC Lyme disease programs
✔️ +$1M for CDC vector-borne disease programs
✔️ $5M for LymeX innovation initiatives

The bill also includes important report language that helps ensure federal agencies continue prioritizing Lyme and tick-borne disease research, surveillance, and patient needs.

While there is still work ahead before these investments become law, this is a significant step forward—and a powerful reminder that advocacy works.

Thank you to every patient, caregiver, clinician, researcher, advocate, and supporter who has helped make progress like this possible. Together, our voices are being heard.

We’ll continue to keep you updated as the appropriations process moves forward.

For more information on how Project Lyme is making an impact, check out our website: https://projectlyme.org/our-impact/

Center for Lyme Action