tick-borne disease Archives - Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Bay Area Lyme Foundation Issues Call-for-Applications for 2027 Emerging Leader Awards and Research Grants

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bay Area Lyme Foundation Issues Call-for-Applications for 2027 Emerging Leader Awards and Research Grants

2027 program offers two $150,000 grants to advance the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for Lyme and tick-borne illnesses

PORTOLA VALLEY, Calif., October 20, 2026 – Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the US, today announced the opening of applications for the 2027 Emerging Leader Awards (ELA), which recognize researchers identifying innovative approaches to solve the challenges of Lyme and tick-borne illnesses. These awards provide funding and mentorship for scientists at the postdoctoral level through associate professor level who seek to advance novel methodologies that could change the future of diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and tick‑borne diseases.

“Lyme disease continues to be difficult to diagnose and often impossible to cure, particularly when patients have co-infections,” said Katariina Tuovinen, research grant director at Bay Area Lyme Foundation. “Through the Emerging Leader Awards, we hope to inspire and support promising scientists who are pursuing innovative research that has the potential to benefit current or future patients with tick-borne illnesses.”

The two 2027 ELAs, each consisting of a $150,000 grant, are:

Lyme Disease Award will support creative approaches to advancing diagnostics and/or therapeutics for Lyme disease, continuing the legacy started more than a decade ago.
Tick-borne Infection Award will fund research on non-Borrelia tick-borne pathogens/infections occurring in the US, with preference for bacterial and parasitic pathogens. Projects may address single infections or co-infections in combination with Borrelia burgdorferi.

While the awards are open to academic and private sector researchers working in any scientific area related to tick-borne disease, those seeking to advance diagnostics or therapeutics for Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications are due by February 1, 2027.

From the Field: Where Tick Bite Prevention Meets Real Life

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Bay Area Lyme Spotlight series

AEOE Spring Conference 2026 | Springville, California

At this year’s AEOE Spring Conference 2026, Bay Area Lyme was once again on the ground, meeting the people who shape how the next generation experiences the outdoors.

And the message was clear: the need for tick-bite prevention education has never been greater.

Jo Ellis, Director of Education, connected with more than 300 naturalists, many of them early in their careers, deeply passionate, and actively leading outdoor programs for children across California. Nearly 40% were first-time attendees, bringing energy and reach, but often little awareness of tick exposure risk in the state.

The response to our presence was immediate and overwhelming.

“The exponential impact and reach of this program cannot be underestimated, and it’s one of our most important outreach events educating high-risk individuals about Lyme in California.”

– Jo Ellis, Director of Education, Bay Area Lyme

Bay Area Lyme Ventures Invests in Galaxy Diagnostics to Advance Tick-Borne Disease Testing

Galaxy Diagnostics and Bay Area Lyme Ventures

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bay Area Lyme Ventures Invests in Galaxy Diagnostics to Advance Tick-Borne Disease Testing

Partnership Aims to Accelerate Innovation in Diagnostic Tools for Patients with Complex Tick and Vector-Borne Illnesses

DURHAM, NC., June 2, 2026 – Galaxy Diagnostics, a leader in advanced vector-borne disease testing, has announced a strategic investment from Bay Area Lyme Ventures, the newly launched impact investment fund created by Bay Area Lyme Foundation to accelerate innovation in Lyme and tick-borne disease diagnostics and therapeutics.

With reported tick-borne disease cases more than doubling in the United States over the past two decades, the investment underscores the growing urgency for more accurate and accessible diagnostic tools for complex vector-borne illnesses.

Founded by leaders in vector-borne disease research, Galaxy Diagnostics was created to address a critical gap in medicine: the detection of stealth pathogens that often go undiagnosed by conventional testing. The company has become known for advancing diagnostics designed to help providers better identify complex infections associated with Lyme and other vector-borne diseases.

Galaxy’s growing portfolio includes advanced molecular testing, antigen detection technologies, and diagnostic collaborations to translate emerging scientific discoveries from the lab into real-world clinical tools. Backed by hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and partnerships with leading academic researchers, the company continues to advance new standards for precision in tick-borne disease diagnostics.

“We are honored to receive support from Bay Area Lyme Ventures at a critical moment for tick-borne disease diagnostics,” said Nicole Bell, CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics. “Bay Area Lyme has funded much of the foundational research that Galaxy is now bringing to patients — the investment in Galaxy reflects their commitment to seeing those innovations through to the clinic, and to ensuring that better diagnostics actually reach the people who need them.”

Liz Horn: The Lyme Disease Biobank That Could Change Everything

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Liz Horn, PhD, MBI

Liz Horn, PhD, MBI, serves as Principal Investigator of Lyme Disease Biobank, a resource that provides much-needed blood, urine, and tissue samples to researchers studying Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. She has spent more than 2 decades working with non-profit organizations to build research initiatives and collaborations with academia, other non-profits, and industry. Since 2020, she has served as a scientific advisor for the LymeX Diagnostics Prize, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. Liz is passionate about building resources to move research forward that help people, improve lives, and reduce suffering. She earned her doctorate in molecular pharmacology and cancer therapeutics from SUNY at Buffalo, was a National Library of Medicine fellow in biomedical informatics, and received her MBI from Oregon Health & Science University.

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Empowering the Next Generation of Lyme Prevention Leaders: Tick-bite prevention tips for Girl Scouts

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Bay Area Lyme Spotlight series

“When it comes to tick bites, knowing how to protect yourself makes a big difference. Wear long sleeves and pants, use insect repellent, and check your body (and your pets!) carefully after outdoor play. We are excited to share this information, so more people can enjoy the outdoors safely.”

– Amara and Audrey

Bay Area Lyme is proud to recognize Girl Scouts Amara and Audrey, whose Silver Award project, Tick Tactics: Outsmarting Nature’s Sneakiest Pests, has been officially accepted by Girl Scouts of Northern California.

Their work transforms complex science into engaging, accessible education, helping young people understand the risks of tick-borne diseases and how to stay safe outdoors.

We Need a New Generation of Lyme Doctors: James Bruzzese, MD, is Leading the Way

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Bay Area Lyme Spotlights Series

“Some institutions are evolving in research and education, but it’s not translating to clinical practice.”

– James Bruzzese, MD

When James Bruzzese, MD, talks about Lyme disease, he doesn’t speak in abstractions. He speaks as a brother who watched his sister lose her ability to walk; a son who watched his father leave his job to become a full-time caregiver; and as a medical student who sat in lecture halls knowing that what was being taught about Lyme and tick-borne disease was grossly incomplete.

Now, as a young physician preparing to open a practice dedicated to treating Lyme and tick-borne disease patients in New York, James represents something the Lyme community urgently needs: a new generation of doctors who understand that Lyme is real, that patients deserve better, and that the status quo must be challenged.

“It Was Traumatic. We Thought We Might Lose Her.”

Better Tests, Better Answers

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Bay Area Lyme Leading the Way Series

“The IGeneX test is far more sensitive than most commercially available tests for Lyme disease, detecting far more positive patients compared to standard two-tier ELISA or Western Blot tests,”

– Jyotsna Shah, PhD

Click here to watch or listen now

For people living with or who suspect Lyme disease, getting a clear diagnosis can feel like the hardest part. Symptoms often mimic those of other illnesses, and traditional tests miss many cases.

In this episode of Ticktective™, Dr. Jyotsna Shah, President and Laboratory Director of IGeneX, shares with our host, Dana Parish, how her team is changing that—and how Bay Area Lyme Foundation helped make it possible.

Dr. Shah explains how partnerships between innovative labs like IGenex, Bay Area Lyme Foundation, and our Lyme Disease Biobank are helping deliver faster, more accurate diagnostics—and new hope for patients who’ve struggled for years to find answers.

Bay Area Lyme Foundation Launches Bay Area Lyme Ventures as First Impact Investment Fund to Support Entrepreneurs and Companies Advancing Lyme Disease Solutions

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bay Area Lyme Foundation Launches Bay Area Lyme Ventures as First Impact Investment Fund to Support Entrepreneurs and Companies Advancing Lyme Disease Solutions

New venture philanthropy fund announces initial investments and will help guide game-changing Lyme diagnostics and therapeutics to commercialization

PORTOLA VALLEY, Calif., September 4, 2025 — Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the US, today announced the launch of Bay Area Lyme Ventures (Lyme Ventures), a bold new impact fund that is the first designed to attract and drive investment to promising tick-borne diagnostics and therapeutics nearing commercialization. By bringing together strategic research investments, collaborative partnerships, and patient-focused resources, Lyme Ventures aims to advance innovative diagnostics and therapeutics to fill significant gaps that exist in medical care. Today, the fund announces investments in Aces Diagnostics and LymeAlert, both of which are designed to help people bitten by ticks navigate the complicated process of getting an accurate diagnosis.

“This new chapter expands Bay Area Lyme Foundation’s commitment to accelerating innovative diagnostics and therapeutic breakthroughs, as there is an extreme scarcity of support for entrepreneurs and companies developing accurate solutions for patients and clinicians in tick-borne disease,” said Linda Giampa, who led Bay Area Lyme Foundation for the past 12 years and is now the founder and managing director of Bay Area Lyme Ventures.

Lyme Ventures will complement Bay Area Lyme Foundation’s continued commitment to funding scientific research by advancing promising discoveries into clinical development and, ultimately, through commercialization. To date, Bay Area Lyme Foundation has granted more than $30 million toward research, while Lyme Ventures has a goal of investing $5 million by 2027 into companies working to bring solutions to market. Proceeds from these philanthropic investments will fund research projects at Bay Area Lyme Foundation.

Tick-borne Disease Prevention for City Employees

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Bay Area Lyme Spotlights Series

“Tick-borne diseases are a growing public health concern in California and across the country. Educating the community and supporting prevention efforts is essential.”

– Guillermo Calvillo, Staff Specialist

For the past four years, Bay Area Lyme Foundation has partnered with the City of San Jose’s Environmental Services Division (ESD) to offer free tick-bite prevention and Lyme disease awareness training to employees whose jobs in the field place them at risk of exposure to ticks. As part of our ongoing education efforts, we spoke with Staff Specialist Guillermo Calvillo to learn more about his department’s work—and why tick-bite prevention matters to his team.

BAL: What do you do?

Calvillo: I work at the City of San Jose Environmental Services Division (ESD). I am in charge of all aspects of safety training and compliance for the entire ESD. I have been with the city for almost five years, and I have learned a great deal while enjoying being part of the ESD team.

Bay Area Lyme Foundation Announces National Winner of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award to Develop a Much-Needed Rapid, Low-Cost, Easy-to-Use Lyme Disease Test

By Bay Area Lyme Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bay Area Lyme Foundation Announces National Winner of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award to Develop a Much-Needed Rapid, Low-Cost, Easy-to-Use Lyme Disease Test

Winner Chao Wang of Arizona State University will receive $150,000 to evaluate a unique diagnostic that uses gold nanoparticles and has been proven in other infectious diseases

PORTOLA VALLEY, Calif., June 12, 2025—Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the US, has given its 2025 Emerging Leader Award (ELA) to Chao Wang, PhD, associate professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University, faculty with ASU’s Biodesign Institute® and an expert in nanotechnology and biosensors. Wang will receive $150,000 to support his work to develop a much-needed rapid, low-cost, easy-to-use test, called Nano2RED-LD, for Lyme disease. The test aims to deliver results in as few as 30 minutes when a patient who may have Lyme disease first sees a doctor.

There is an immense need for better Lyme disease tests. Today’s standard-of-care tests miss too many cases at all stages of Lyme disease, including as many as 70% of early Lyme cases.

“With Lyme disease cases rising steadily across the U.S., the need for accurate and timely diagnostic tools has never been greater,” said Katariina Tuovinen, research grant director, Bay Area Lyme Foundation. “Dr. Wang’s pioneering work epitomizes the essence of this award as it applies innovation from other infectious diseases in an effort to enhance outcomes for patients affected by Lyme disease.”