Persistent symptoms after Lyme disease: following patients from diagnosis to recovery
Official title: A Prospective Study of Persistent Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11365919 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide team will follow people diagnosed with acute Lyme disease over time to understand who develops lingering symptoms and why, with the goal of better tests and treatments.
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) | $4,537,192 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI181934-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365919 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with acute Lyme disease who are willing to be followed over time to monitor recovery and potential development of PTLDS.
✕Less likely to help
People who never develop long-term symptoms or who are unable to participate in long-term follow-up may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows patients from the moment they are diagnosed with acute Lyme disease through their recovery or development of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. It brings together clinicians, epidemiologists, immunologists, microbiologists, and statisticians to study multiple factors at once, including immune responses, prior exposures, and characteristics of the bacteria. The study design emphasizes serial follow-up and comprehensive data collection to capture the evolving course of the illness. The goal is to uncover why some people continue to have symptoms after standard treatment and to identify potential targets for improved care. Results could reshape how PTLDS is diagnosed and managed in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive earlier, more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments for PTLDS.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have provided important clues but have not consistently confirmed findings across larger groups; this project aims to provide more definitive insights.
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.