The Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Centers at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center cover three core areas –
clinical care, research, and national clinical trials. The goal is to improve the lives of individuals with Lyme and other
tick-borne infections through research to identify better diagnostics, more effective treatments, and new biomarkers to
guide treatment selection. The CTN will enhance the speed and quality of clinical trials on Lyme and TBD. The Lyme and
Tick-borne Diseases Research Center, established in 2007, will continue its commitment to research, while the new Columbia
Center of Excellence – the Cohen Center for Health and Recovery – will provide coordinated clinical care, new treatment studies,
and educational fellowships for the next generation of clinicians.
The Johns Hopkins Medicine Lyme Disease Research Center was established in 2015 where it is part of the Department of
Medicine. The Hopkins Lyme Center continues the tradition of promoting fundamental and translational research started
by our forbearer Sir William Osler the first head of Medicine at Johns Hopkins. The Center’s current research programs
are focused on advancing the understanding of biologic disease mechanisms and on improving the accuracy of diagnostic
tests for both acute and chronic presentations of Lyme disease. The Center’s integration with the Division of Rheumatology
enhances its research into the immune mechanisms that may drive persistent symptoms in Lyme disease.
As one of the country’s leading children’s hospitals, the Children’s National Hospital provides compassionate, world-class
care and research. The Children’s National Lyme and other tick-borne disease program is prioritizing study of the risk of
maternal-fetal transmission and surveillance for potential complications (e.g., brain development); this research will help
to inform treatment strategies for pregnant women. Children’s National continues to partner with the federal HHS Lyme Innovation
initiative to accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tickborne diseases. In 2017, Children’s
National partnered with the NIAID to advance the health of children with infectious diseases (e.g, Lyme disease) to identify key
factors associated with recovery or longer term symptoms.