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News & Updates August 2016
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Sept. 9: LDA/Columbia Conference Early Registration Ends
Lyme & Other Tick-Borne Diseases:
New Strategies to Tackle an Expanding Epidemic
Sign up now online to avoid price increase for the Lyme Disease Association (LDA) & Columbia University's jointly provided annual Lyme & tick-borne diseases conference being held in St. Paul, Minnesota, Oct. 15 & 16, 2016. Designed for doctors to receive CMEs and researchers, the public is also invited to register and all can attend a reception and network with the conference faculty. Beginning 9/10/16, the conference registration rate rises.
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| | Photo by James Occi Rutgers University |
The conference features very current research that could alter the field. Saturday's Keynote, Dr. Robert Moir, Harvard, presents his breaking in vitro results on Beta Amyloid, Alzheimer's and Lyme Disease, followed by Dr. Judith Miklossy, International Alzheimer Research Center, reviewing evidence suggesting a link between spirochetal infection and Alzheimer's disease. The newest breakthrough in the combination of novel biotechnologies for improved Lyme diagnostics has led to a test using nanotechnology− results from an initial study presented by Dr. Alessandra Luchini, George Mason University. Dr. Bobbi Pritt, Mayo Clinic, discusses a new species of Borrelia discovered to cause Lyme in the US; Dr. Ying Zhang, Johns Hopkins, presents in vitro antimicrobial strategies (antibiotics) to eradicate Borrelia "persisters," which may be causing chronic symptoms, that offer promise for more effective treatments for human Lyme disease. Dr. John Aucott, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, discusses new findings on the human immune response in Lyme disease.
In the area of prevention, Dr. Steve Zatechka, US BIOLOGIC, discusses the latest on a novel mouse vaccine. Work so new it is generating discussions from scientists around the world on the impact it might have on ecology in general will be presented by Dr. Kevin Esvelt, MIT Sculpting Evolution Lab --his talk will address "Community-Guided Ecological Immunization to Prevent Tick-Borne Disease" using CRISPR technology.
Other talks include diagnosing neurologic Lyme disease from Dr. Patricia Coyle, Stony Brook and acute & chronic neuropsychiatric disease, Dr. Brian Fallon, Columbia; a cardiac Lyme case, Dr. Betty Maloney, Partnership for Tick-Borne Diseases Education, a Lyme CME Provider; a review of clinical trials of Lyme Disease, Internist/epidemiologist, Dr. Daniel Cameron; isolation of spirochetes from patients in the Southern U.S., Dr. Kerry Clark, University of N. Florida; diagnosis & treatment of pediatric Lyme arthritis, Dr. Lise Nigrovic, Boston Children's Hospital; controlling the inflammatory response in the mouse model of Lyme arthritis, Southern Research Institute's Dr. Timothy Sellati; studies of viruses in ticks, Dr. Rafal Tokarz, Columbia University. Other TBDs featured are Tularemia by Nantucket clinician Dr.Timothy Lepore, Bartonella, Dr. Marna Ericson of University of Minnesota, and Babesia in the blood supply, Dr. Evan Bloch of Johns Hopkins. A public health talk on the spread of Lyme disease vector into the United States by the CDC's Dr. Ben Beard will conclude the conference. For conference information and to register online click hereAnd Commercial Support from IGeneX, Palo Alto, CA
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Professional Scholarships Available for Conference
The Lyme Disease Association is pleased to offer professional scholarships for the LDA/Columbia "Lyme & Other Tick-Borne Diseases: New Strategies to Tackle an Expanding Epidemic," conference on Oct. 15, 16, 2016 in St. Paul, MN. Medical students, residents, post-doctoral candidates, fellows, veterinarians with equivalent status to the above, and nurse practitioner candidates are eligible to apply. Please disseminate through all social media.
LDA's goal is to disseminate knowledge to those studying in the medical/research area and provide them with an opportunity to meet with leading scientists in the field. The LDA is partnering in this endeavor with the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation who has provided educational gift support for the scholarships. Thank you!
LDA must receive the application by Sept. 7, 2016 to be considered for a scholarship.
For more information and to apply online click here
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LDA Comments on Limiting Antibiotics in Healthcare
Citing the increase in drug resistant bacteria, the Centers for Disease Control has been leading an effort with the "National Quality Forum's National Quality Partners which convened more than 25 expert and national stakeholders from the public and private sectors-including patient advocates, infectious disease physicians and pharmacists, and acute care providers-to develop National Quality Partners Playbook: Antibiotic Stewardship in Acute Care," published in May 2016. The IDSA, which has been instrumental in providing Lyme treatment guidelines which limit antibiotic treatment for Lyme patients, was on the above panel. Click here for full LDA article on this topic
National Quality Forum: Antibiotic Stewardship Playbook
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LDA Continues Education & Awareness Efforts
MAINE, The LDA is an all volunteer run organization which accomplishes many of its goals through public presentations and meetings. This year, a presentation was made in Maine to more than 300 people at the MidCoast Maine Lyme conference. Maine is very high in per capita cases of Lyme. Midcoast Maine Lyme is an LDA affiliate. more info
MARYLAND, The LDA President Pat Smith traveled to Ft. Detrick, MD, for a 2-day meeting on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program funding for Lyme disease. She was appointed to the government panel to provide input into the process of awarding the Department of Defense monies for Lyme researchers. more info
WASHINGTON, DC, The LDA attended a conference in Washington on Lyme disease prevention sponsored by the CDC, the Entomological Society of America and the IPM Institute of North America. The LDA is a partner with the above entities in the Working Group that developed the conference.
NEW YORK, The LDA attended a meeting in NYC for the Columbia University Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee, on which LDA President sits.
COLORADO, The LDA sponsored its first Rocky Mountain Forum on Lyme & Other Tick-Borne Diseases in a state that CDC says has no Lyme. LDA partnered with Biting Back, a new Colorado Lyme group and LDA supporter group. About 100 people attended and the event was given network TV coverage before and after the event. A video will be coming soon on the website of the entire event. more info
MASSACHUSETTS, LDA worked closely with the MA Lyme legislative Task Force to help pass the insurance legislation in 2016, and LDA had provided onsite testimony to the legislature last year on the Lyme bill. more info
NEW HAMPSHIRE, LDA worked with Timberland in NH to provide a doctor to attend their employee health fair. NH Lyme numbers have been on the rise for many years.
PENNSYLVANIA, LDA worked with a Doodle Applications partner to facilitate his efforts to raise funds and awareness for Lyme disease in the 36th annual BC Broad Street run in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania had the highest case numbers in 2014 for Lyme. more info
ARIZONA, The LDA also was invited to AZ for a conference sponsored by Focus on Lyme, to hear about a proposed new Lyme test being developed by TGen.
NEW JERSEY, The LDA made a number of presentations in NJ to all 3rd grades in two elementary schools (Howell & Wall NJ), to a pest control company, Belmar-Wall Rotary, and a Boy Scout troop who were preparing for upcoming camping trip. The scoutmaster asked how many kids had ticks removed last year and a lot of hands went up. more info
VERMONT, In August, the LDA went to VT for the annual Manchester Rotary Bike Climb for Lyme and LDA President spoke to the riders. She later presented a PowerPoint to a crowd in the Manchester Library-a crowd who vociferously voiced their distress that they could not receive treatment for their Lyme in Vermont. more info
FUTURE TRIPS, LDA president will be traveling to Bar Harbor, Maine at the end of September to speak at the Women in Government conference, then many LDA Board members who staff the conference will be off to Minnesota in October for the LDA/Columbia conference.
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| | Brian Fallon, MD, MPH Conference Director |
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