Understanding Lyme Disease's Effects on the Brain and Nerves
A murine model of Lyme neuroborreliosis
This project aims to create a better mouse model to understand how Lyme disease affects the brain and nervous system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126554 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Lyme disease, especially when not caught early, can become chronic and lead to serious issues like Lyme neuroborreliosis, which affects the brain and nerves, causing symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and memory loss. Currently, there isn't a good animal model that fully shows these neurological problems, making it hard to develop new treatments. This research seeks to develop a new mouse model that can better mimic how Lyme disease impacts the nervous system, including developing inflammation and neurological signs. By creating this model, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of the disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients living with Lyme neuroborreliosis, especially those with chronic symptoms like memory loss or fatigue, could ultimately benefit from the discoveries made using this model.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by Lyme disease or its neurological complications would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A more accurate mouse model could help researchers discover new ways to treat or prevent the neurological complications of Lyme disease.
How similar studies have performed: While nonhuman primate models exist, they have limitations, and current mouse models do not fully show neurological signs, making this approach to developing a new mouse model quite novel.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Michigan State University — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogovsky, Artem S — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Rogovsky, Artem S
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 below.