Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Lyme Disease (LD) is an emerging microbial threat and new approaches are required to help contain this risk to human health. LD is caused by the bacterial pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick. There are several strains of the bacteria that are responsible for the onset and progression of LD, but there have been no efforts to stratify their risk for infection. Given the ease by which ticks travel, there is a geographical distribution of these bacterial strains in Canada. Environmental factors such as climate change have been shown to exacerbate this problem. In response to this issue, health researchers at Queen's University are inviting scientists with expertise in LD and tick-borne illnesses from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Public Health Ontario, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, all of whom serve communities where LD is endemic, to develop a comprehensive research strategy that will help to neutralize this microbial threat. The funding of this proposal will initiate first ever discussions to advance new research partnerships and initiatives to address this threat to human health.