NatCapLyme awarded a grant to develop a Lyme disease prevention education and awareness curriculum for grades K-12. The curriculum is designed for classroom instruction with pre- and post-tests to engage the student in implementation of the impact of Lyme and tick-borne disease at each grade level. Lyme topics include reading, writing, language arts, math, science, social studies, and health lessons for each grade level, with supplemental handouts, research aligned activities, and lessons that enhance learning and develop skillsets.

NatCapLyme provided a grant program for physicians to attend the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society’s 2014 Scientific Conference, “Lyme Disease Fundamentals Course” in Washington D.C. Ten physicians from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. were awarded grants, thus returning to their communities better prepared to treat their patients.

NatCapLyme awarded a research grant to support the work of Dr. John Aucott, Principal Investigator for the Lyme Disease Research Foundation of Maryland, who is conducting a longitudinal study (known as the SLICE study) in collaboration with scientists at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The clinical research team will examine the course of infection by the Lyme organism and the resulting illness from the initial rash to the chronic persistent stage. The team’s objectives are to measure risk factors, symptom pattern and severity, and immune system response over time in patients with chronic Lyme symptoms. The foundation’s goal is to clearly define and understand the cause of disabling symptoms patients may suffer as a result of Lyme infection, and to improve Lyme patients’ diagnosis, treatment, and health outcomes.

NatCapLyme funded a special community program called “Learn the Latest on Lyme” for students, parents, and school staff about Lyme and tick-borne diseases.