Thanksgiving in the Lyme world, 2017
Along with new and continuing challenges for the Lyme community, there is also much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season. Here’s some of what’s on our Gratitude List this year:
MyLymeData offers leap forward for Lyme research
Almost 10,000 people have enrolled in MyLymeData, our big data study aimed at targeting research to the real-world needs of Lyme patients.
Furthermore, scientists from UCLA and Claremont McKenna have received a three-year, $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, to continue their work of predictive analytics, using data from this project. This will provide an immense benefit to Lyme patients, leading the way to more promising treatments.
LymeDisease.org’s Lorraine Johnson has presented preliminary MyLymeData findings to researchers, doctors and patients at professional conferences and our own MyLymeData2017. (Mark your calendars–MyLymeData2018 will be April 7.)
Broader national news coverage of Lyme and TBDs
Major media outlets have paid more attention to Lyme-related issues this year.
Of special note: a five-part investigative series from NBC New York called The Lyme Wars; WBUR radio series called “Losing to Lyme“; PBS News Hour; and Rolling Stone magazine. In addition, independent journalists Mary Beth Pfeiffer and David Michael Conner continue to provide excellent coverage of many facets of this complex topic.
In addition, in May, Fox5NY received an Emmy award for its groundbreaking 2016 TV news special, “Lyme and Reason: The Cause and Consequence of Lyme Disease.”
New York State Senate hearing on Lyme disease
On August 29, the New York State Senate’s Task Force on Lyme and Tick-borne Diseases held a public hearing, which was streamed live to a national audience. In response, the task force called for a statewide action plan and more funding to combat tick-borne diseases in New York.
This is an important step forward toward protecting the citizens of New York from Lyme and other infections. We hope other states will follow suit.
And we’re thankful for YOU
We’re grateful for you, members and friends of LymeDisease.org. With your support, we continue our efforts to empower Lyme patients through advocacy, education and research.
We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, and look forward to continuing to work together in the future.
