Investigating brain changes and blood markers in patients with lingering symptoms after Lyme disease treatment
Official title: Neuroimaging and blood markers in post treatment Lyme disease with persistent neurologic symptoms
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10932440 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how Lyme disease treatment affects brain activity and symptoms in patients, by comparing them to healthy people over a year, to help understand why some still feel unwell afterward.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $522,935 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI178774-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932440 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have been diagnosed with early Lyme disease and are experiencing persistent neurological symptoms after antibiotic treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been treated for Lyme disease or those without neurological symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the neurological symptoms that some patients experience after being treated for Lyme disease. It will involve tracking changes in brain activity and white matter using functional MRI over a period of 12 months in patients who have had early Lyme disease. The study will compare these patients to healthy individuals to identify potential mechanisms behind persistent symptoms. By analyzing blood markers alongside neuroimaging data, the research aims to uncover insights into the healing process and cognitive performance in these patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for patients suffering from post-treatment Lyme disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that neuroimaging and biomarker analysis can provide valuable insights into neurological conditions, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marvel, Cherie L — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Marvel, Cherie L
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.
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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.