NatCapLyme again awarded a research grant to support the innovative work of Dr. Neil Spector, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University School of Medicine. His research work focuses on the molecular and immunobiology of cancer, which could also lead to a paradigm shift in treatment to a new generation of targeted and immunotherapies to battle Lyme and its co-infections.
NatCapLyme awarded a research grant for the fourth year to support the work of Dr. Ying Zhang, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Zhang’s recent research evaluated the use of essential oils as a more effective agent than antibiotics at killing Lyme bacteria that causes lingering Lyme symptoms.
NatCapLyme awarded a research grant to Dr. Samuel M. Shor for his ongoing work, in collaboration with George Mason University and the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, as the principal investigator in the state-of-the-art research project involving nanotechnology to diagnose the presence of Lyme disease. This potentially highly sensitive diagnostic tool could provide the first reliable and rapid testing for active Lyme disease.
NatCapLyme sponsored, for the fifth year, first-time attending physician attendance at the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society 2018 Scientific Conference “Lyme Fundamentals Course” in Chicago, Illinois. Fifty physicians from around the country were awarded grants for their participation and returned to their communities better prepared to treat their patients.
NatCapLyme awarded a research grant to Old Dominion University to study the presence of a common co-infection called Babesia in ticks collected throughout Virginia. This joint effort involving NatCapLyme and Old Dominion University will allow for more informed policies to be generated and provide information to the citizens of Virginia as well as the entire mid-Atlantic region about the actual risk of tick-borne pathogens in their area.
Funding was awarded to Old Dominion University’s Tick Research Team for outreach materials used for the creation of tick removal kits, printed brochures and tick-identification cards. These materials were used at Old Dominion University’s Tick outreach events throughout Virginia.
NatCapLyme awarded a grant to the LEAF Program, Inc. for their 2018 Lyme education tour. This tour visited eight states in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions teaching prevention and awareness of tick-borne diseases to school age children, children’s groups, and summer camps. Participants were given educational materials, age-appropriate books, hands-on activities, technology and integrative activities.
NatCapLyme awarded a grant to the Center for Open Data Enterprise to help facilitate the first-ever Lyme Innovation Roundtable at HHS headquarters on December 4th in Washington, D.C. Over 80 leaders from government, industry, academia, clinical research institutions, patient advocacy groups, non-profits, and philanthropic organizations were brought together to develop new strategies and approaches to address Lyme and tick-borne diseases. The Roundtable was hosted by the HHS Office of the Chief Technology Officer in collaboration with the Cohen Foundation, Bay Area Lyme Foundation, Center for Open Data Enterprise and Ensemble.
NatCapLyme sponsored and funded local community events and supported other national advocacy organizations efforts’ to raise awareness about Lyme and tick-borne diseases.
