LymeLnk and Bay Area Lyme Foundation Partner to Bridge the Gap Between Research and Public Awareness

Bay Area Lyme Leading the Way Series

“Science moves minds and stories move hearts. This partnership connects two essential parts of the Lyme ecosystem: the research that advances medicine and the communication that inspires action. Together, we’re making education and prevention more accessible.” 

– Eva Scarano, Founder and Executive Director, LymeLnk

LymeLnk is a new nonprofit combating Lyme and tick-borne diseases (Lyme+) through community storytelling and education. Founded in 2024 at Parsons School of Design, LymeLnk was born out of founder Eva Scarano’s personal nine-year journey with Lyme+, during which she chose to create meaning from her isolated quest for health.

Eva’s Lyme+ journey began in 2016 with a textbook case: a bull’s-eye rash and flu-like symptoms. Among the fortunate few to receive a prompt diagnosis, she underwent three grueling months of antibiotics and supplemental treatment and was asymptomatic for two years. Everything changed in 2019 when she moved into a mold-infested apartment, triggering a collapse of her immune system—her Lyme markers were back and higher than ever. Years later, Eva had just begun graduate school at Parsons when she found herself at her “rock bottom.” Struggling to remember class material from the day prior or make it past 3:00 pm without a nap, she remained determined to continue her studies and reclaim her health.

Designing a New Lyme Narrative

Applying Parsons’ Strategic Design and Management curriculum to her personal circumstances, Eva began to view Lyme and tick-borne disease through a research and design lens. What she discovered was a storytelling gap—a lack of cohesive, compelling narratives that accurately convey the scope and severity of Lyme+. Without a consistent message, public understanding remains limited, and funding lags far behind the urgency of the disease.

LymeLnk was created to close that gap. Its name reflects its purpose: solving for missing links between the Lyme+ community and the outside world. By placing patient voices at the center of educational campaigns, LymeLnk will increase Lyme+ literacy one community at a time—starting with at-risk groups such as outdoor enthusiasts, parents and children, and pet owners. Through participatory design and community co-creation, LymeLnk is developing a unified message about Lyme+ that resonates across age groups and backgrounds. The goal is simple: everyone should know the “ABCs” of Lyme+— Awareness, Be safe, and Check for symptoms.

After conducting over 100 community interviews and co-design workshops, the LymeLnk team uncovered a powerful insight. When patient participants were asked to describe their “ideal future state,” their responses weren’t about advanced treatments or technology—they simply wanted to hear others say: “I know what Lyme+ is, it’s serious. And I know someone who has it.” That insight reshaped LymeLnk’s vision—to create a world that cares about Lyme+.

Linking Science and Story: A New Partnership for Change

From the earliest conversations, it was clear that Bay Area Lyme Foundation and LymeLnk had complementary missions. As a leading research organization, Bay Area Lyme brings unparalleled technical expertise, data, and scientific resources to the Lyme community. LymeLnk, in turn, brings modern design thinking, accessible communication, and community engagement to translate that science for public consumption.

Through this collaboration, Bay Area Lyme will share research insights and technical expertise as LymeLnk applies strategic design methodology to transform complex scientific information into clear, engaging educational programming. Together, the organizations aim to bridge the gap between research and public understanding—connecting the science of Lyme+ with the people it impacts most

Pilot Education Program Building Lyme Awareness

LymeLnk’s first pilot educational campaign will launch in 2026 with the Elementary Institute of Science (EIS) in Southeast San Diego. The program will integrate Lyme+ education and prevention into STEM curricula, reaching more than 2,500 students—and their parents—through hands-on learning experiences. While LymeLnk co-designs the campaigns with EIS, they will leverage Bay Area Lyme Foundation’s research-based curriculum, aligned with California State Standards for Health and Science and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). 

This collaboration represents an important step toward unifying the Lyme+ community around a shared narrative and an evidence-based approach to education. “Science moves minds and stories move hearts. This partnership connects two essential parts of the Lyme ecosystem: the research that advances medicine and the communication that inspires action. Together, we’re making education and prevention more accessible,” commented Eva Scarano, LymeLnk’s founder and executive director.  And by combining design, storytelling, and science, LymeLnk and Bay Area Lyme Foundation are creating a future where everyone has the knowledge to recognize, prevent, and respond to Lyme+.