The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association (NatCapLyme) is an all-volunteer nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of those suffering from Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. Founded in 2001, our organization has support chapters throughout Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and the District of Columbia. Our members, including our board of directors, have either experienced the disease personally or have loved ones suffering from a tick-borne illness.

Our advocacy and legislative efforts support our mission by advancing the pursuit of a cure for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Until that cure is found and made available to all who suffer, we will work tirelessly to bring public awareness to this growing epidemic that afflicts more than 400,000 Americans each year (CDC,2018).

We promote prevention through education and awareness, work with legislators to enact new laws, underwrite physician training and fund innovative research for a timely diagnosis and treatment of these illnesses. We initiated and contributed to the passage of the Virginia Lyme Disease Testing Information Disclosure Act of 2013. This groundbreaking law made Virginia the first state in the nation to inform patients of the limitations of current Lyme disease tests. NatCapLyme sponsored and obtained successful passage of similar legislation in Maryland in 2016.

We provide education and information to a variety of communities, including federal and state agencies and their employees, the private sector and all levels of student groups from grade schools to universities. We collaborate and partner with other patient organizations and government agencies that are focused on tick-borne diseases by sponsoring medical conferences, educational seminars and public events.

Additionally, we offer emotional support to Lyme patients and their families through our monthly support group meetings. Our flagship Washington, DC chapter holds its monthly support group meeting from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month, with the exception of January, July and September. These meetings are held at Sibley Memorial Hospital, 5215 Loughboro Road, N.W., Washington, DC, 20016, New Medical Building, Room 2. You can find the meeting schedules for our other chapters here.

To get involved, ask a question, or receive additional information, please contact us at natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org or call 703-821-8833.

NatCapLyme strives to improve the quality of life for people suffering from Lyme and other tick-borne diseases by offering support and disseminating information to educate and empower patients, families, healthcare workers, and the community at large.

We have three main strategic objectives to accomplish our mission:

1. Build Support

We create networks for sharing our personal trials and experiences through our monthly support group meetings. Through medical conferences, educational seminars and public events, we collaborate and partner with other organizations and government agencies that are focused on treating and eliminating tick-borne illness.

2. Increase Awareness

We educate communities through public service programs and the distribution of print and digital materials. We heighten public awareness about tick-borne diseases by hosting noted healthcare professionals’ presentations. Using social media, television, radio and newspaper, we draw media attention to tick-borne illnesses, raising awareness nationwide.

3. Find a Cure

We build support for tick-borne disease research by educating local, state, federal and international medical and political influencers, in addition to funding Lyme disease research efforts. We work on both state and federal legislation to address Lyme and tick-borne disease issues.

The NatCapLyme Board of Directors meets monthly to discuss and plan all association activities and review latest developments in medical research pertaining to Lyme and associated tick-borne diseases.

Among the board members of NatCapLyme are accomplished individuals from all walks of life, and of myriad backgrounds and talents. The board includes: medical professionals, attorneys, contractors, lobbyists, current and former government officials, artists, librarians, lobbyists, scientists, students, teachers, neighbors, family members, and coworkers. The diversity of the board helps to maintain a broad and even-handed perspective in our organization.

NatCapLyme collaborates with diverse groups across the nation to advocate for more accurate diagnostics and improved treatment options. We believe that diversity, teamwork, and determination will drive the creation of innovative solutions and ideas as we unite behind a shared sense of purpose. Every group’s perspective is respected and valued, as diversity in knowledge, experience and opinion enlightens and strengthens our own organization’s work and the greater cause.

Among many of our past partners are U.S. Representatives Barbara Comstock, Jerry Connolly, Rob Wittman, Frank Wolf; George Mason University; Institute of Medicine; U.S. Centers for Disease Control; Montgomery County (MD) Health Department; Fairfax County (VA) Health Department along with Supervisor Pat Herrity; the Loudoun County (VA) Health Department along with Supervisor Geary Higgins; and Partners Against Lyme and Tick Associated Diseases.

NatCapLyme focuses our efforts on helping people with tick-borne diseases through awareness, education, support, advocacy, and research. After careful deliberation, we issue formal position or policy statements on issues that are of critical importance to our community and our association’s mission. We invite you to read through our past position statements:

Founded in and serving the Washington, DC area since 2001, NatCapLyme educates government officials and healthcare industry leaders about Lyme and tick-borne diseases on behalf of individuals and families of those afflicted with such diseases. We actively engage with all sides of the Lyme and tick-borne disease issue to encourage measurable progress. NatCapLyme is an all-volunteer organization, but we have an appointed legal and legislative counsel, as well as individual board members, who bring political and legal experience to the table. Our legislative activities are ongoing, always focused on improving the lives of tick-borne disease sufferers.

We’re fighting on many fronts. We invite you to see what we’re doing on a state and federal level:

What will make a meaningful change in the lives of those suffering from tick-borne illnesses, given how deeply divided the medical, scientific, governmental, and political groups are with respect to their beliefs, approaches, and treatment of these diseases? While many of us dream of a cure, what transformational event or circumstance will lead to these elusive medical breakthroughs?

We believe that the genesis for change begins simply with conversations that are respectful, constructive, collaborative, and solution-focused among the broad spectrum of players making up the Lyme and tick-borne disease community.

To do our part to stimulate such conversations, this blog is intended to provide our readership with interviews from the leading physicians, researchers, politicians, and even patients involved in these Lyme related issues. Our purpose here is to collect the visions and insights of these individuals with the belief that such a resource may engender innovation, new ideas, and fresh approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Beyond impacting the present debate, these interviews may serve as a repository for understanding the historical evolution and significance of these diseases and their treatment.