PTLDS: Understanding why some Lyme patients stay sick after treatment
Official title: Epidemiology of Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11365925 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study following people with early Lyme disease to learn why some continue to have symptoms after standard antibiotics.
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) | $248,539 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI181934-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365925 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with early Lyme disease who are starting standard antibiotic treatment and are willing to be followed over time.
✕Less likely to help
People who recover fully after treatment or who are unable to participate in long-term follow-up may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will track patients starting treatment for early Lyme disease to see how many develop Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) and what factors are linked to that outcome. Researchers will look at infections that may co-occur with Lyme disease and review pre-existing health factors to identify possible predictors of PTLDS. The study uses a large network and standardized assessments to estimate how common PTLDS is and its public health impact. Findings could guide future prevention and care strategies for people with Lyme disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve early identification of patients at risk for PTLDS and inform interventions to reduce long-term symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests PTLDS is real but its predictors are not well defined, making this approach important and continuing to build evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Telford, Sam R — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Telford, Sam R
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.