Grant Cycle Application Process

2025 Request for Applications

Application Process (Two Stages):

GLA’s grant application process consists of two stages:

I. Letter of Intent (LOI): Applicants submit a 1-page overview of their proposed project. Only a simple budget and biosketch are required at this stage. LOIs will be reviewed for feasibility and programmatic alignment before invitation to the full proposal stage. The Letter of Intent deadline is June 30, 2025, 11:59pm ET.

II. Full Proposal (by invitation only): Invited applicants will submit more detailed information, including a 6-page proposal, detailed budget, and supporting materials. Full proposals will be reviewed by GLA’s Scientific Advisory Board, following a process modeled after the National Institutes of Health, to identify and support projects of the highest scientific merit and potential for impact. The Full Proposal tentative deadline is September 15, 2025, 11:59pm ET.

2025 Timeline*

*Timeline is subject to change depending on application volume or other circumstances. 

Program Description

Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) is the leading 501(c)(3) dedicated to combatting Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through innovative research, awareness, and empowering the patient voice. GLA has awarded over $20 million in research funding through more than 70 grants to study Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. GLA supports high-quality, evidence-based, and data-driven research that advances scientific knowledge and contributes to improving patient outcomes.

Research Priorities

GLA prioritizes research that accelerates the development of innovative diagnostics, elucidates disease mechanisms, and advances novel treatment strategies for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. A particular emphasis is placed on understanding and addressing post-treatment and chronic manifestations of Lyme disease.

2025 GLA Research Topic Areas

1. Diagnostics

GLA supports research aimed at developing accurate diagnostic tools for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Priority areas include:

• Early detection methods that improve specificity and sensitivity, particularly in differentiating active infection from past exposure, and in identifying patients who may not present with hallmark signs such as erythema migrans lesions.
• Biomarker discovery for identification of infection-associated chronic manifestations of Lyme disease, including the diagnosis of individuals with post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms (PTLDS).
• Imaging, molecular, and serological approaches for disease identification and progression monitoring.

GLA seeks to advance understanding of the biological processes that drive infection, immune dysfunction, and neuroinflammation in Lyme disease and PTLDS. Areas of interest include:

• The immunopathogenesis of Lyme disease, including host immune responses and mechanisms of immune evasion by Borrelia burgdorferi.
• The role of neuroinflammation in neurological and cognitive symptoms associated with PTLDS.
• The development of robust animal models that replicate the clinical, molecular, and immune features of PTLDS to facilitate mechanistic, therapeutic, and diagnostic studies.

GLA prioritizes research into innovative therapeutic approaches aimed at improving patient outcomes, with a focus on:

• Drug repurposing and novel antimicrobial strategies.
• Therapies aimed at mitigating dysregulated immune responses.
• Precision medicine approaches that tailor treatments based on patient-specific factors like genetics and immune profiles.

GLA supports epidemiologic research to improve the understanding of Lyme and tick-borne disease prevalence, risk factors, and disease burden across diverse populations. Key areas include:

• Population-based studies to assess the incidence, geographic distribution, and long-term outcomes of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including post-treatment and chronic manifestations.
• Identification of environmental and genetic factors contributing to disease susceptibility and severity.
• Investigations into co-infections with other tick-borne pathogens and their impact on disease progression and treatment response.

• Establishing and expanding biobanks that include well-annotated patient and control samples, such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid to support diagnostic and therapeutic research.
• Developing standardized protocols for sample collection, processing, and storage to ensure data quality and reproducibility across studies.
• Facilitating data-sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration by integrating biobanked samples with clinical, molecular, and genetic datasets for comprehensive analyses. 

GLA encourages interdisciplinary collaborations and the use of cutting-edge technologies, such as multi-omics, artificial intelligence-driven diagnostics, and advanced in vivo models, to drive transformative discoveries in Lyme disease research.

Program Eligibility

GLA welcomes research proposals from qualified applications worldwide. The principal investigator (PI) on applications should typically hold a PhD, MD, or other advanced degree relevant to the research proposal. Graduate students are not eligible to serve as PI on these awards.

Funding Range and Project Length

The maximum budget is $175,000 per year, including indirect costs of up to 10%, with a maximum project duration of two years unless otherwise discussed.

LOI Instructions

LOIs must be one page, single-spaced, using Arial 11-point font with 0.5-inch margins. The following sections must be included:

• Project Title and Applicant Name
• Impact (How the project addresses one or more of the 2025 GLA Research Topic Areas)
• Significance (Briefly describe the research problem and its importance)
• Preliminary Data (If available, summarize key findings that support the proposal)
• Proposed Experiments (Concise study design and approach)
• Translational Relevance (Briefly explain how the work could contribute to future improvements in patient outcomes)
• Personnel Qualifications (Brief overview of expertise relevant to the project)

All LOIs must adhere to these guidelines for consideration. 

Letter of Intent Deadline June 30, 2025, 11:59pm ET

Full Proposal Instructions

GLA conducts a programmatic review of LOIs to identify those with the strongest alignment to the 2025 Research Focus Areas and the greatest potential for feasibility and impact. Applicants invited to submit full proposals must be submitted online via the following portal. Word, PDF, or Excel files are accepted for each section.

I.    Abstracts

• Lay-language abstract: Describe your proposed project in ≤ 200 words using nontechnical language and avoiding the use of acronyms (i.e., at a level that a ninth-grade student would understand).
• Technical abstract: Describe your proposed project in ≤ 200 words using language commonly found in peer-reviewed publications and NIH grant proposals.

II.    Biographical Sketch

Include biographical sketches of the PI and all key personnel referenced in the budget. A biosketch modeled on the NIH format is preferred and highly encouraged.

III.    Other Research Support

List all active and pending support (government, private, institutional, etc.) for the PI and key personnel, whether related to this proposal or not.

IV.   Project Description

The total length must not exceed 6 pages (excluding abstracts, references, and appendices). Project descriptions exceeding 6 pages will not be reviewed. Please organize your project description in the following sequence. Suggested page limits are flexible, but the total must not exceed 6 pages:

• Background, Hypothesis, and Specific Aims (~1 page)
• Significance, Innovation, and Impact (~1 page)
• Approach (~4 pages)
  • Previous Work/Preliminary Data
  • Scientific rationale and technical details (e.g., experimental design, controls, methodologies, instrumentation, assays)
  • Anticipated results/pitfalls/alternatives

Required Format: Applications must be in English, with single-spaced text using Arial 11 or larger point font, and 0.5-inch margins.

V.   References

List of references, uploaded in its own field during application submission.

VI.   Budget

Provide a detailed budget and justification, including staff needs and itemized supplies. Applicants may request up to $175,000 USD per year, which must include both direct and indirect costs. GLA allows up to 10% institutional indirect costs as part of the total budget. Example: A $175,000 total request would include $157,500 in direct costs and $17,500 in indirect costs. For proposals over one year, include a budget for each year. If there are sub-awards, their budgets must also be outlined.

Permissible direct costs include:

• PI and non-administrative staff compensation (salary, wages, stipends, with fringe benefits)
• Supplies and materials as itemized in the budget
• Annual travel expenses to nationally recognized scientific/medical conferences
• Costs associated with publication from the GLA funded project in scientific peer-reviewed journals
• Grantees are expected to allocate sufficient funds for participation in GLA’s annual research symposium

Impermissible costs:

• Membership dues, books, journals, and tuition.

All awarded funds must be used solely for the purposes described in the approved application and budget. Note that budgets are sometimes reduced below the amount requested based on availability of funds and the scientific and programmatic merit of proposals.

VII.   Appendix

If applicable, include a letter from collaborators at non-home institutions confirming their commitment to the study. The applicant is also encouraged to share pdf versions of any prior publications whose findings are directly relevant to the submitted research proposal. Materials may be combined into one PDF file to facilitate uploading.

VIII.   Laboratory Animals Statement

For projects that involve laboratory animals, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval date and animal welfare assurance number must be provided. For non-US applicants, an equivalent document or letter from their host institute’s Animal Ethics Committee may be submitted.

IX.   Human Subjects Statement

For grant applications involving human subjects the following must be included:

• Protection of Human Subjects: A statement on risk assessment, protective measures, potential benefits, and the study’s importance.
• Demographics: A description of the population’s demographics and relevance to Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections.
• Enrollment: Explain how enrollment targets will be met, including details of the patient population and recruitment sites.
• Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Please list inclusion and exclusion criteria and ensure case definitions of patient populations are clear.

X.   Biohazards Statement

An institutional statement and assurances regarding potential biohazards and safeguards must be included. In most cases, the institutional department of environmental health and safety (or equivalent office) can provide the applicant with a letter stating that the laboratory and/or the applicant is compliant with applicable laws. An equivalent document from applicants from non-US countries may be provided.

XI.   Authentication of Key Biological and Chemical Reagents

If applicable, briefly describe methods to ensure the identity and validity of key biological and/or chemical resources (maximum one page). These include reagents or samples that may vary between labs or over time and are crucial to the research, such as cell lines, antibodies, and patient samples. Standard lab reagents like buffers or growth media need not be included.

XII.   Signatures

A signature page must be completed before submission. Signatures from the PI and an authorized institutional representative are required.

Full Proposal Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by members of GLA’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) using the following criteria:

1. Does the project address a key problem or barrier in the field? Will the outcomes advance scientific knowledge, tools, treatments, or clinical practice?
2. Does the project propose novel ideas, methods, or tools that shift current research or clinical practice? Does it offer improvements or new applications?
3. Proposed research should generate high-impact data with clear potential to advance scientific knowledge, therapeutic development, or clinical care. Projects must demonstrate how outcomes could improve patient health in the short or long term. Priority will be given to studies that:
   
   • Provide a strong foundation for future research or funding;
   • Address critical gaps in knowledge or treatment;
   • Have translational potential to improve patient outcomes.
4. Are the PI and team qualified and appropriately experienced? Do collaborative teams have complementary expertise and sound leadership
5. Are the strategies and methods appropriate to achieve the aims? Are challenges, alternatives, and success metrics addressed?

SAB members will score these sections using the NIH 1–9 scale, with 1 being the highest score (exceptional) and 9 the lowest (poor). This standardized scoring system allows reviewers to assess the overall impact and quality of each proposal.

Additional Review Considerations (unscored criteria)

Animals. The committee will evaluate the proposed use of live animals based on the procedures described, justification for choosing animals over alternative models, measures to minimize discomfort and pain, and the euthanasia method if not in line with AVMA Guidelines.

Budget. The committee will review the proposed budget for clarity and alignment with project goals. This includes evaluating staff compensation, supplies, and any sub-award budgets. The budget should reflect the appropriate use of requested funds to achieve project outcomes.

Biohazards and Authentication of Key Resources. Reviewers will assess any potential hazards posed by materials or procedures to research personnel and the environment, as well as the proposed protective measures. Additionally, for projects involving key biological or chemical resources, the review will include the adequacy of plans to authenticate and ensure the validity of these resources.

For Administrative and Scientific Inquiries Contact:

Cara DeAngelis, Ph.D., Director of Research

cara.deangelis@gla.org


Armin Alaedini, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer

armin.alaedini@gla.org