PORTOLA VALLEY, Calif., October 20, 2026 - Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the US, today announced the opening of applications for the 2027 Emerging Leader Awards (ELA), which recognize researchers identifying innovative approaches to solve the challenges of Lyme and tick-borne illnesses. These awards provide funding and mentorship for scientists at the postdoctoral level through associate professor level who seek to advance novel methodologies that could change the future of diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and tick‑borne diseases.
“Lyme disease continues to be difficult to diagnose and often impossible to cure, particularly when patients have co-infections,” said Katariina Tuovinen, research grant director at Bay Area Lyme Foundation. “Through the Emerging Leader Awards, we hope to inspire and support promising scientists who are pursuing innovative research that has the potential to benefit current or future patients with tick-borne illnesses.”
The two 2027 ELAs, each consisting of a $150,000 grant, are:
While the awards are open to academic and private sector researchers working in any scientific area related to tick-borne disease, those seeking to advance diagnostics or therapeutics for Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications are due by February 1, 2027.
Applicants, including researchers who are new to Lyme and tick-borne illness research, should be at the postdoctoral through associate professor level (or equivalent in industry) and demonstrate professional and scientific leadership in the biomedical sciences. Proposed projects must have a clearly defined approach, a strong scientific rationale, and the potential to generate proof of concept within 12–24 months.
Submissions must include a research proposal and at least one letter of support from a supervisor or principal investigator. All applicants are also encouraged to include the potential use of samples from Lyme Disease Biobank in their proposal.
Since the inception of the Emerging Leader Award in 2014, this annual program has granted $3.1M, catalyzing research breakthroughs, leading to improved diagnostics and therapeutic approaches, and enabling awardees to secure follow-on funding from institutions such as the NIH.
The full criteria and application, as well as a list of past winners and project descriptions, can be found at: https://www.bayarealyme.org/our-research/emerging-leader-award/ . Awardees will be announced in May 2027 at LymeAid, Bay Area Lyme Foundation’s annual fundraiser. Please direct any questions about the ELA application process to award@bayarealyme.org or call 650.530.2439.
If you would like more information or have questions about Bay Area Lyme Foundation research funding outside of the ELA program, please visit https://www.bayarealyme.org/our-research/grant-process/ .
About Lyme disease
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infection in the US and can cause debilitating long-term symptoms. Transmitted by the bite of an infected tick, and potentially from mother to unborn baby, Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed, making timely treatment difficult. As a result, up to two million Americans may be living with long-term complications. Each year, approximately 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease, far more than new cases of HIV/AIDS, West Nile virus, tuberculosis, or malaria combined. A 2022 BMJ Global Health analysis found that about 1.15 billion people worldwide have or previously had an infection with Lyme Borrelia , highlighting the widespread and growing public-health impact of this disease.
About Bay Area Lyme Foundation
Bay Area Lyme Foundation , a national organization committed to making Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure, is the leading public charity sponsor of innovative Lyme disease research in the US. A 501c3 organization based in Silicon Valley, Bay Area Lyme Foundation collaborates with world-class scientists and institutions to accelerate medical breakthroughs for Lyme disease. It is also dedicated to providing reliable, fact-based information so that prevention and the importance of early treatment are common knowledge. Historically, a pivotal donation from the LaureL STEM fund covered all overhead costs through 2024. In 2023, a Bay Area Lyme Endowment was formed, which allows for 100% of all donor contributions to Bay Area Lyme Foundation to go directly to research and prevention programs in perpetuity. For more information about Lyme disease or to get involved, visit www.bayarealyme.org or call us at 650-530-2439 .
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