LYMEPOLICYWONK: Lyme disease: the promise of Big Data, companion diagnostics and precision medicine
I am delighted to announce that Dr. Ray Stricker and I have published a new article, “Lyme disease: the promise of Big Data, companion diagnostics and precision medicine.” This article is about what the future of Lyme disease holds viewed in light of all-new technological advances and opportunities offered by big data, designer drugs, and diagnostic techniques. It is available open access. The abstract is below.
Lyme disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi has become a major worldwide epidemic. Recent studies based on Big Data registries show that >300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the USA, and up to two-thirds of individuals infected with B. burgdorferi will fail conventional 30-year-old antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease. In addition, animal and human evidence suggests that sexual transmission of the Lyme spirochete may occur. Improved companion diagnostic tests for Lyme disease need to be implemented, and novel treatment approaches are urgently needed to combat the epidemic. In particular, therapies based on the principles of precision medicine could be modeled on successful “designer drug” treatment for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C virus infection featuring targeted protease inhibitors. The use of Big Data registries, companion diagnostics and precision medicine will revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
Please take the time to read the article and share your thoughts. Our big data project, MyLymeData, hopes to take advantage of these opportunities.
The LYME POLICY WONK blog is written by Lorraine Johnson, JD, MBA, who is the Chief Executive Officer of LymeDisease.org. You can contact her at lbjohnson@lymedisease.org. On Twitter, follow her @lymepolicywonk. If you have not signed up for our patient-centered big data project, MyLymeData, please register now.
My 3yr old grandbaby was just diagnosed with Lyme disease. She’s been on a 21 day antibiotics treatment. We’ve also noticed that since her diagnosis, she began to studder her words. A doctor told us, it’s not from the Lyme disease, but rather, hereditary, due to the fact that her dad studders, somewhat. It seems to me, like a big “coincidence “, that she never studdered prior to getting Lyme disease. Am I correct in assuming that the Lyme disease definitely has something to do with the studdering?
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Sue McEntee
Lyme disease and/or co-infections could possibly be involved with stuttering. Do you know if the child has been evaluated for co-infections (other nasty stuff that can be transmitted along with Lyme)?
Information resources:
https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/children/
https://www.amazon.com/When-Your-Child-Lyme-Disease/dp/0996224300/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
My daughter has Lyme but has had it for a long time and has issue with cognitive skills as well, I wish the best in her treatment. Stay on it. We all need to vigilant on getting better care and coverage for this disease that affects so many
This clearly a huge problem bigger numbers than Breast Cancer etc.. Treatment s are inadequate as well as Diagnosis. Time to grab the Politicians by their you know what to get their attention to act. This suffering has to stop. Lives need to be saved and it’s role in dementia needs immediate attention.
Thank you Kevin. I agree 100%