Understanding Persistent Symptoms After Lyme Disease
A Prospective Study of Persistent Symptoms of Lyme Disease
This project aims to understand why some people continue to feel sick after being treated for Lyme disease by following them closely from the time they are first diagnosed.
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 ID | NIH-11184277 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people experience ongoing symptoms even after receiving antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, a condition known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Currently, there isn't a clear diagnostic test or agreed-upon treatment for PTLDS, and we don't fully understand what causes it. This project will follow individuals from their initial Lyme disease diagnosis to see who develops PTLDS and why. By looking at various factors like immune responses and bacterial characteristics, researchers hope to uncover the complex reasons behind these persistent symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this project are individuals who have recently been diagnosed with acute Lyme disease.
Not a fit: Patients who have not had a recent acute Lyme disease diagnosis or who do not experience persistent symptoms may not directly benefit from participating in this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to diagnose, treat, and even prevent the long-lasting symptoms of Lyme disease.
How similar studies have performed: While previous smaller studies have offered intriguing findings, this project represents a novel, large-scale prospective approach to confirm and expand upon those observations.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Tufts University Boston — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Linden T — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Hu, Linden T
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.