Immunology of lingering Lyme symptoms after treatment
Official title: Immunology of Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11365928 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores why some people continue to feel pain and fatigue after Lyme disease and how their immune systems might drive these lingering symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $974,157 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI181934-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365928 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have completed Lyme treatment, with either persistent symptoms or full recovery, may be eligible to contribute samples and data.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who recovered completely without lingering symptoms may have less direct benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Researchers at Tufts University are studying adults who have completed Lyme treatment but still have ongoing symptoms. They will compare immune markers and antibody patterns between those with lingering symptoms and those who recovered fully, using advanced lab methods. The goal is to identify common immune pathways that may underlie PTLDS and related conditions, which could point to new approaches for relief. Participation would involve providing samples and health information to help map immune responses over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better understanding and future treatments for PTLDS and similar post-infectious syndromes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work hints at immune activation in PTLDS, but results have been inconsistent, making this project innovative in its approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Linden T — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Hu, Linden T
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.