A One-of-a-Kind Gathering Advancing the Future of Lyme Disease Research

GLA's 2025 Research Symposium united top scientists to drive innovation and collaboration in Lyme disease research, showcasing groundbreaking advancements and fostering new partnerships.

Each year, Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) hosts a singular event that stands apart in the Lyme disease research landscape: the GLA Research Symposium. Held this May at the Hyatt Regency in Old  Greenwich, CT, this year’s Symposium was the only gathering of its kind that brought together GLA-funded investigators, leading researchers from across the country, industry partners, and Scientific Advisory Board Members, all united by one mission: to accelerate breakthroughs in Lyme and tick-borne disease research. 

This wasn’t just a conference. It was a launchpad for collaboration and innovation. 

Over two packed days, leading researchers unveiled their latest findings during focused sessions on diagnostics, immunology, tick and Borrelia biology, chronic illness, and biobanking.  The lineup featured distinguished speakers and panelists from top institutions including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia, as well as the government and industry. The presentations showcased the cutting edge of what’s possible in Lyme disease research today, highlighting bold scientific approaches, novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and breakthrough discoveries that are redefining the field. 

What makes this event so powerful is the collaborative spirit it fosters. There is nothing else like it in the field: a dynamic, real-time exchange of ideas between scientists. For many, the gathering served as a catalyst for fresh ideas and provided a valuable opportunity to initiate new collaborations and launch novel research studies, while deepening understanding of how their work contributes to the broader scientific landscape. 

The welcome dinner was an opportunity for GLA’s most dedicated supporters to meet the res earchers. Supporters shared moving stories of their own journeys as patients, caregivers, or parents of children affected by Lyme. Their passion is the fuel behind GLA’s mission, and the Symposium makes clear just how impactful that support is. 

GLA isn’t just a funder of research, we are an incubator of innovation. The projects we support frequently go on to be published in top-tier scientific journals and subsequently secure major follow-on funding from institutions like the NIH. Our investments de-risk early-stage ideas, spotlight promising hypotheses, and prove their value on the national stage. 

At the heart of this process is our Scientific Advisory Board, a premier panel of top researchers and clinicians who rigorously review proposals and guide our strategy to ensure every dollar funds science with the greatest potential to improve diagnostics, treatments, and understanding of Lyme disease and related conditions. 

The 2025 Research Symposium reaffirmed GLA’s role in advancing the field. By bringing together scientific leaders and dedicated supporters, we continue to build momentum toward better outcomes for patients and a deeper understanding of this complex disease.  

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