The December 15, 2025, HHS roundtable on Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases placed long-overdue national attention on the millions of patients and families who have lived with an “invisible illness” for far too long. One of the clearest messages of the event was that the era of dismissing or gaslighting Lyme patients must end. This reflects what our community has endured for years.
The Bay Area Lyme Foundation welcomes this federal focus on the urgent need for accurate diagnostics, rigorous patient-centered research, and better access to care, including the acknowledgment that Lyme disease qualifies as a chronic condition within Medicare care frameworks. These priorities closely align with, and have long guided, the work we have led for more than a decade.
We initiated the Lyme Disease Biobank, which is now a cornerstone resource for diagnostic and translational research across the country and has attracted significant support from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation. Through additional philanthropic investment and scientific collaboration, Bay Area Lyme has also supported or co-funded many of the research advances referenced throughout the roundtable.
We were also proud to see several members of our scientific community participate in the discussion. Dr. Steven Phillips, a long-standing member of the Bay Area Lyme Scientific Advisory Board, spoke directly to the burden of persistent Lyme and emphasized the need for better diagnostics and more effective treatments. Dr. Linden Hu, also a member of our Scientific Advisory Board, highlighted important advances in multi-omic research, drug repurposing, and machine learning. Dr. Robert Bransfield twice mentioned his work with the Lyme Disease Biobank, a program of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, and its importance to research. In addition, researcher Dr. Mikki Tal (an Emerging Leader Award research recipient) has contributed to the growing body of evidence that is reshaping how persistent infection and immune dysregulation are understood.
As federal agencies, lawmakers from both parties, and partner foundations consider next steps, Bay Area Lyme Foundation stands ready to collaborate. Our focus remains clear:
- Make Lyme and other tick-borne diseases easy to diagnose and simple to cure
- Accelerate the development of reliable diagnostics
- Support well-designed clinical trials, including repurposed therapeutics
- Expand prevention, education, and scientific understanding across the United States
National attention is encouraging, and we welcome the engagement of the public sector, but progress will continue to depend on rigorous science, transparent evidence, and solutions centered on patients. Our commitment is to ensure that this moment leads to real and measurable change for the millions affected.