Global Lyme Alliance identifies and funds the most innovative and promising projects specific to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Grantees are chosen from top universities and medical institutions across the globe. GLA-funded researchers represent the best and the brightest Lyme disease researchers in the field. We are proud to showcase some of our research grant recipients. See also the Deborah and Mark Blackman-GLA postdoctoral fellowships.
Assistant Professor, Division of Geographic Medicine & Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center
Babesia is a tick-borne pathogen that often co-infects alongside Lyme disease. Dr. Vannier’s study centers on identifying neutralizing antibodies that may promote clearance of the parasite from infected mice.
STUDY (2018): “Antibody-based therapy for severe babesiosis”
Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School; Research Staff, Massachusetts General Hospital
Patient genetics are important in determining the immune response to infections evoked by Borrelia burgdorferi. This study will identify specific genes whose polymorphisms may promote immune dysfunction and more severe acute and post-acute disease.
STUDY (2017-18): “Host genetic factors in the pathogenesis of Lyme disease and its post-Lyme syndromes”
Professor of Medicine, Pathology, Molecular Biology & Genetics and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
T cells command multiple arms of the immune response, yet their activity during B. burgdorferi infection is not well understood. This study will identify T cell subsets that are active during infection and determine what portions of the bacteria are recognized by them. This may help to explain immune dysfunctions that cause many patients to suffer continued symptoms after initial treatment.
STUDY (2018): “T cell immunity in human Lyme borreliosis”
Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Co-Director of Population Science Center, ICCTR and Senior Associate Physician in Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
This project will establish a systematic collection of patient information and samples from six clinical sites, for detection of B. burgdorferi and tick-borne co-infections in children living in Lyme-endemic areas.
STUDY (2018): “A pediatric multi-center Lyme disease research network with biosample collection”
Professor, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
Therapeutic vaccines are designed to elicit beneficial immune responses after infection, and may be important new tools in the treatment of Lyme disease. This study will identify critical B. burgdorferi targets and design a vaccine to enhance bacterial killing.
STUDY (2018): “Therapeutic vaccine for Lyme disease”
