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2013 INITIATIVES
The Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA) had a very productive 2012 working with others nationwide to advance public awareness and research of tick-borne diseases and to help create a unified voice for the tick-borne disease community. This year, we will further this important work in advocacy, awareness, fundraising, grants and research, and through our medical education program and the doctor referral program. Below you will find some exciting information about key initiatives for 2013. We appreciate your continued support of these efforts.
Advocacy
- TBDA will launch its very first letter writing campaign, encouraging individuals across the country to contact local representatives and push for greater funding of research. This is critical to attacking the current tick-borne disease epidemic. Join this effort by visiting tbdalliance.org/advocacy.
Awareness
- TBDA is partnering with community organizations across the country to host Bite Back for a Cure Walks/Runs. A walk was recently held in Texas, and upcoming walks are scheduled in Connecticut and Massachusetts. If you are interested in hosting a walk, please visit tbdalliance.org/walks.
- Recently we named Bob Oley as the TBDA Public Health Consultant, and we’re excited to announce thatTick Talk with Bob Oley will continue as a monthly feature on our website. Upcoming articles in the Tick Talk series will focus on winter vacations to warmer climates and how to properly landscape your yard to protect your home from ticks.
Fundraising
- After raising more than $1.2 million to aid in the fight against Lyme and other tick-borne diseases last year, we aim to raise $1.8 million in 2013. This year’s Annual Benefit on May 2nd at Pier 60 in New York City will play a major role in our efforts to reach this goal. A Save the Date announcement has already been sent to the TBDA Family, and a formal invitation will be mailed in the coming months. We hope you’ll invite family, friends and colleagues to join us for this exciting event.
Grants and Research
- For the past five years, TBDA has supported the work of Eva Sapi, Ph.D., associate professor of cellular and molecular biology at the University of New Haven. With our support, Dr. Sapi has made tremendous progress in the area of biofilm research. Because biofilm on cells makes it difficult for antibiotics to reach bacteria, biolfilm creates a serious problem in the treatment of Lyme. We look forward to continuing to fund Dr. Sapi’s promising research in the coming year, and while Dr. Sapi gets our focus in this area, our grants encompass other research as well.
Medical Education Program
- TBDA’s Medical Education Program will continue to provide the opportunity for physicians worldwide to study with Lyme-literate doctors, equipping them with the skills necessary to properly diagnose and treat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. In addition, the program will assist in a year-long initiative to select and train a neurologist, under the guidance of two Lyme-literate physicians: Doctors Amiram Katz and Brian Fallon.
- In 2013, the program will also focus on recruiting pediatricians, who play a critically important role in making sure children are properly diagnosed and treated for tick-borne diseases.
- TBDA is also undertaking a series of medical interviews to broaden our community and educate both doctors and patients about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. We will begin the series by conducting interviews with doctors on a range of topics, including diagnostic testing, existence of chronic Lyme disease and the contamination threat of Babesia in our blood supply. These video interviews will be hosted on our website and promoted via social media.
Doctor Referral Program
- Last year, through our Doctor Referral Program, TBDA connected more than 7,000 patients with Lyme-literate doctors, helping people suffering from tick-borne diseases to find answers and support during a very difficult time in their lives. Each day, we receive countless emails of appreciation from those who have been helped by the program. In fact, one patient wrote “When no one else could help us, you came through with flying colors.” These testimonials inspire all of us at TBDA, and we are proud to continue this program in 2013.
Thank you again for joining our fight to end Lyme and tick-borne diseases.
