Lyme Disease Biobank (LDB) has enrolled more than 1,250 participants with early Lyme Disease (LD), later LD, persistent LD, or controls from endemic areas. Each participant’s donation provides samples for ~50 research projects. LDB supports more than 95 projects in academia and industry with more than 19,500 aliquots distributed to date. LDB also collects post-mortem and surgical tissue samples.

Available Samples


Whole Blood (1 and 2 ml aliquots), Serum (250 μl aliquots), Urine (1 and 5 ml aliquots)

  • Early LD: We have a unique cohort of samples from patients diagnosed with early LD, defined clinically, and confirmed by laboratory testing. Characterization of 550 samples collected on the East Coast and the Upper Midwest was published in 2020. Samples are typically provided blinded to investigators (not knowing which samples are cases and which are controls). An unblinded panel is available with 5 laboratory confirmed acute Lyme disease cases, 3 with convalescent draws, and 7 matched endemic controls. The unblinded panel includes all clinical data and testing data up front and is suitable for projects early in development. Previous testing in human samples is not required to access the panel. 
  • Later LD and other tick-borne infections (TBI): In partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital, we have collected samples from patients with Lyme carditis and neuroborreliosis with appropriate carditis or neurologic controls, as well as samples from patients with Anaplasma, Babesia, or other tick-borne infections with matched controls (with fever, high LFTs, often low platelets). We also have samples in the early LD cohort that tested positive for Babesia or Anaplasma by PCR. 
  • Persistent LD: We have collected ~150 samples from patients with ongoing symptoms of LD in Northern California (Santa Rosa and San Rafael) and San Diego.

Investigators interested in applying for blood, serum, or urine samples should email Liz Horn, PhD, MBI, to discuss your project and sample needs.

Tissue Samples

Please contact Liz Horn, PhD, MBI, for more information about what tissue samples are available.

Lyme Disease Biobank

 

Application Process


​​Applicants submit an application that includes a technical proposal, a lay summary of the work, justification for the number of samples being requested, timing and funding of the proposed work, the publication plan, and applicant’s CV. Applications can be reviewed without Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, however IRB approval or exemption from the applicant’s IRB is required prior to releasing samples. Please note: There is a separate application for the Unblinded Panel that requires less detail.

Please contact Liz Horn, PhD, MBI, for the application and instructions.

Peer Review

Applications for blinded samples undergo peer review by an ad-hoc committee of at least two experts.

Final Approval

All applications are presented to Lyme Disease Biobank Board for approval. Applicants will be notified by email when approved or declined.

Signed Paperwork

De-identified samples are released upon receipt of an executed Sample and Data Use Agreement and approval or exemption from the applicant’s IRB.

Contact Us
For more information, please contact Liz Horn, PhD, MBI, Principal Investigator.

We would like to recognize and thank the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, the LaureL STEM Fund, an anonymous donor, and the 2014 & 2018 LymeAid Fund-a-Need supporters who have contributed significantly to our Lyme Disease Biobank.

We are grateful to the participants who volunteered and donated samples.