Identifying immune markers to predict Lyme disease outcomes
Official title: Unlocking serology’s secrets: harnessing novel immune biomarkers to predict Lyme disease progression and recovery
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-10876386 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune markers in the blood can help predict whether people with Lyme disease will get better or continue to have symptoms after treatment, using a new technology to get clearer results.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $630,295 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI178713-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10876386 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with Lyme disease who are undergoing or have completed antibiotic treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Lyme disease who do not receive antibiotic treatment or those with other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific immune biomarkers can predict the progression and recovery of Lyme disease, which affects a significant number of patients annually. By analyzing various antibody types in the blood of Lyme disease patients, the study aims to identify a unique immune profile that distinguishes those who will recover from those who may experience persistent symptoms after antibiotic treatment. The researchers have developed a novel technology called FLIP to enhance the profiling of these antibodies, providing a more detailed understanding of the immune response to Lyme disease. This approach could lead to better predictive tools for managing patient care and treatment outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a reliable method for predicting recovery from Lyme disease, allowing for more personalized treatment plans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in identifying immune markers for other diseases, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights for Lyme disease as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tal, Michal Caspi — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Tal, Michal Caspi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding why some people have ongoing symptoms after Lyme disease
A long-term study follows people diagnosed with acute Lyme disease to see who develops persistent symptoms and why, with care from a team of Lyme experts.
-
CSF Protein Map in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease
A short study to map proteins in spinal fluid of people who had Lyme disease and still feel sick after standard treatment, to understand what’s going on.
-
Lyme disease vaccine research aimed at preventing infection
Researchers are developing a Lyme disease vaccine by studying how the immune system responds to Borrelia burgdorferi and testing vaccine approaches to prevent illness.
-
Lyme disease brain health: tracking brain signals and blood clues after treatment
This study follows people with early Lyme disease and compares them to healthy volunteers to see how the brain and blood markers change over a year after starting antibiotics.
-
Lyme disease symptoms lingering after treatment may be driven by special bacterial fragments
A human-friendly look at a study exploring why some Lyme patients keep symptoms after antibiotics and whether tiny fragments from the bacteria are to blame.
-
Understanding Lyme disease immune signals to predict recovery after antibiotics
A research project at MIT aims to find immune biomarkers that tell which Lyme patients will recover after standard antibiotics and who might have lasting symptoms.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.