Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses (2025)
Chapter: Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas
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Appendix A
Next Chapter: Appendix B: Committee Member and Staff Biographies
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
Appendix A
Committee Meeting Agendas
Meeting 1—Virtual
April 22, 2024
CLOSED SESSION—COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY
| 12:30–2:35 PM | CLOSED SESSION |
OPEN SESSION
| 2:45 PM | Sponsors remarks and committee questions |
| BEN NEMSER | |
| Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation | |
| 3:15 PM | Federal agencies remarks and committee questions |
| LYLE PETERSEN | |
| National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases | |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | |
| NADINE BOWDEN | |
| National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases | |
| National Institutes of Health |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
| KRISTEN HONEY | |
| Office of Assistant Secretary of Health | |
| Department of Health and Human Services |
CLOSED SESSION—COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY
| 4:00–5:00 PM | CLOSED SESSION |
| 5:00 PM | END OF MEETING |
Meeting 1.5—Virtual
May 14, 2024
CLOSED SESSION—COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY
| 12:00 PM | CLOSED SESSION |
| 3:30 PM | ADJOURN |
Meeting 2—Hybrid Workshop
July 11–12, 2024
DAY 1—THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024
CLOSED SESSION
| 9:00 AM | CLOSED SESSION |
OPEN SESSION
| 9:30 AM | Welcome |
| KENT KESTER, Committee Chair | |
| IAVI |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
Opening Session: An Overview of Challenges in Lyme IACI Research
Objectives
- Understand Lyme IACI disease impact; and
- Present overview of current status of ongoing research for Lyme IACI.
Framing Questions
- What is the impact of Lyme IACI in the U.S. and globally?
- What is the current evidence base toward understanding and developing treatments for Lyme IACI?
- What are key scientific or technical barriers in addressing challenges to develop new treatments?
- How are patient perspectives and input incorporated into prospective research studies?
| 9:35 AM | Patient perspective: Impact of Lyme IACI |
| Rhisa Parera | |
| Your Labs Are Normal | |
| 9:45 AM | Overview: Current status and challenges in research for Lyme IACI treatment |
| John Aucott | |
| Johns Hopkins University | |
| 10:05 AM | Building on current progress: Reflections from the HHS Tick-Borne Diseases Working Group |
| C. BENJAMIN BEARD | |
| Division of Vector-Borne Diseases | |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | |
| 10:15 AM | Q&A |
| 10:45 AM | BREAK |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
SESSION 1: Potential Commonalities Across Other Fields and Implications for Lyme IACI
Objectives
- Examine the commonalities between Lyme IACI and other diseases and potential shared mechanisms of pathology; and
- Evaluate the relative strength of evidence for the potential mechanisms of Lyme IACI pathology
- Discuss implications and unique considerations for Lyme IACI.
Framing Questions
- What similarities or differences exist between Lyme IACI and other IACI with neurologic, cognitive, or psychiatric symptoms?
- What does the current evidence suggest about the biological plausibility of the neurologic, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms of Lyme IACI being caused by different mechanisms of pathology?
- What factors should be considered in prospective studies that seek to identify whether there are inflammatory and/or autoimmune biomarkers associated with Lyme IACI?
- Is research on pathogen persistence from other IACI translatable to developing potential treatment for Lyme IACI?
| 11:00 PM | Autoimmune mechanisms of IACI |
| WILLIAM ROBINSON | |
| Stanford University | |
| 11:10 PM | Inflammatory responses in IACI |
| DANIEL CLAUW | |
| University of Michigan | |
| 11:20 PM | Current evidence for mechanisms of colonization and pathogenesis |
| JOHN LEONG | |
| Tufts University | |
| 11:30 PM | Elucidating pathophysiology: lessons from ME/CFS |
| AVINDRA NATH | |
| National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH | |
| 11:40 PM | Discussion and Q&A |
| 12:15 PM | LUNCH |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
SESSION 2: Advances in Diagnostics Research
Objectives
- Explain the relationships between diagnostics research and research on Lyme IACI etiology and treatment;
- Provide an overview of current approaches to diagnostics that may hold promise for Lyme IACI diagnosis;
- Identify current challenges in advancing diagnostics to support development of Lyme IACI treatment and emerging technologies that may mitigate these challenges; and
- Discuss opportunities for implementation of these emerging technologies and other mitigating factors.
Framing Questions
- What are challenges in developing diagnostics for Lyme IACI?
- How do these challenges impact development of treatments?
- What scientific advances exist that may address these challenges?
- What are barriers (technical and/or market forces) to implementing these technologies for Lyme IACI?
| 1:00 PM | Current diagnostic approaches and emerging technologies |
| CHARLES CHIU | |
| University of California, San Francisco | |
| 1:10 PM | Challenges in diagnostics research |
| NANCY KLIMAS | |
| Nova Southeastern University | |
| 1:20 PM | Challenges in advancing new diagnostics development |
| RAYMOND DATTWYLER | |
| New York Medical College | |
| 1:30 PM | Challenges in regulatory considerations of new diagnostics |
| ELLIOT COWAN | |
| Partners in Diagnostics | |
| 1:40 PM | Discussion and Q&A |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
SESSION 3: Strategies to Improve the Applicability of Research
Objectives
- Explore elements of study designs that enable collection of data from more inclusive patient samples;
- Discuss strategies to standardize research questions and outcome measures; and
- Assess the feasibility of implementing data sharing practices across Lyme IACI research studies.
Framing Questions
- What are key factors to model or consider in large or in-depth prospective studies designed to interrogate potential pathways to developing treatments for Lyme IACI?
- What challenges may have been encountered or can be anticipated in collecting and sharing data across different studies?
| 2:10 PM | Patient-generated data |
| BETH JAWORSKI | |
| All of Us Research Program, National Institutes of Health | |
| 2:20 PM | Patient registries and biobanks for Lyme IACI |
| LIZ HORN | |
| Lyme Disease Biobank | |
| 2:30 PM | Platform trial designs toward standardization and quality across studies |
| ROGER LEWIS | |
| University of California, Los Angeles | |
| 2:40 PM | Research trials network and data sharing |
| RACHELE HENDRICKS-STURRUP | |
| Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy | |
| 2:50 PM | Discussion and Q&A |
| 3:20 PM | BREAK |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
SESSION 4: Bridging Opportunities and Action
Session Objectives
- Identify additional barriers that restrict progress on Lyme IACI research;
- Consider how patient-defined research priorities and patient-reported outcomes can inform future research; and
- Discuss opportunities to advance translation of Lyme IACI research into development.
Framing Questions
- What mechanisms or processes are need to incorporate patient priorities into the research agenda in a more systematic way?
- How can barriers to the conduct of Lyme IACI research be overcome? Who needs to be involved in developing solutions to address those barriers?
- What opportunities already exist to advance Lyme IACI research toward the development of treatments and diagnostics, and how can those opportunities be better utilized?
- What would success look like if different stakeholders were able to align on research priorities for Lyme IACI treatment? Are there any examples of successful collaboration for Lyme IACI research?
| 3:30 PM | Panel Discussion: Patient-defined priorities for research |
| Patient-centered outcomes | |
| LORRAINE JOHNSON | |
| LymeDisease.org | |
| Patient participation in research and data collection | |
| WENDY ADAMS | |
| Bay Area Lyme Foundation | |
| Bridging between funder and patient priorities | |
| TIMOTHY SELLATI | |
| Global Lyme Alliance | |
| 4:00 PM | Funder perspective |
| LEITH STATES | |
| Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, HHS |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
| 4:10 PM | Industry perspective |
| MATT TINDALL | |
| FlightPath Biosciences | |
| 4:20 PM | Regulatory perspective |
| STACIE HUDGENS | |
| Clinical Outcomes Solutions | |
| 4:30 PM | Discussion and Q&A |
Day 1 Wrap-Up
| 4:55 PM | Final Remarks |
| KENT KESTER, Committee Chair | |
| IAVI | |
| 5:00 PM | ADJOURN DAY 1 |
DAY 2—FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2024
CLOSED SESSION
| 9:00 AM | Committee meets in closed session |
| 3:30 PM | ADJOURN MEETING |
Meeting 3—Virtual
August 12-13, 2024
DAY 1—MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2024
CLOSED SESSION
| 9:00 AM | Committee meets in closed session |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
OPEN SESSION
WELCOME
| 9:45 AM | Welcome and opening remarks |
| KENT KESTER, Committee Chair | |
| CEPI |
SESSION 1 Moving toward Treatments: Remaining Questions in Lyme IACI Research
Session Objective:
- Identify unresolved research questions on the etiology of Lyme IACI that can inform treatment development and discuss key actions necessary to fill this knowledge gap.
| 9:50 AM | Evidence for central nervous system involvement in Lyme IACI |
| BRIAN FALLON | |
| Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center | |
| Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | |
| 10:00 AM | Pathogen persistence and host immune response |
| MONICA EMBERS | |
| Tulane School of Medicine | |
| LINDA BOCKENSTEDT | |
| Yale School of Medicine | |
| 10:20 AM | Microbiome dysbiosis |
| ILHEM MESSAOUDI POWERS | |
| University of Kentucky, College of Medicine | |
| 10:30 AM | Discussion: Clinician perspective on challenges in clinical diagnosis and treatment outcomes |
| RAVINDRA GANESH | |
| Post COVID Care Clinic at Mayo Clinic | |
| RYAN HURT | |
| Mayo Clinic | |
| LISA SANDERS | |
| Yale New Haven Health Systems Long COVID Consultation Clinic |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
| 10:45 AM | Open discussion with committee |
| 11:30 AM | BREAK |
CLOSED SESSION
| 12:00 PM | Committee meets in closed session |
| 2:00 PM | ADJOURN DAY 1 |
DAY 2—TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2024
OPEN SESSION
WELCOME
| 9:00 AM | Welcome and opening remarks |
| KENT KESTER, Committee Chair | |
| CEPI |
SESSION 2 Health Equity Considerations for Future Research Agenda
Objectives:
- Examine unique challenges in working with underserved populations for research studies on Lyme IACI treatment and discuss mitigation strategies.
- Examine what is known about co-infections with other tick-borne pathogens and the relevance for developing new treatments and diagnostics for Lyme IACI.
- Elucidate current understanding of additional risk factors in developing Lyme IACI from acute Lyme disease and identify promising research directions.
| 9:05 AM | Underserved populations |
| ROBERTA DEBIASI | |
| Children’s National Research Institute | |
| BETHANY ALCAUTER | |
| National Center for Farmworker Health |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
| 9:25 AM | Additional risk factors in developing Lyme IACI |
| Host risk factors including sex differences | |
| MICHAL TAL | |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
| Role of environmental exposures | |
| ESTHER MELAMED | |
| University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School | |
| Co-infections and potential interplay of immune responses | |
| EROL FIKRIG | |
| Yale School of Medicine | |
| 9:55 AM | Open discussion with committee |
| 10:15 AM | BREAK |
CLOSED SESSION
| 10:30 AM | Committee meets in closed session |
| 2:30 PM | ADJOURN |
Meeting 3.5—Virtual
September 10, 2024
CLOSED SESSION—COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY
| 2:00 PM | CLOSED SESSION |
| 5:00 PM | ADJOURN |
Suggested Citation:
"Appendix A: Committee Meeting Agendas." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Charting a Path Toward New Treatments for Lyme Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
doi: 10.17226/28578.
Meeting 4—Hybrid
October 1–2, 2024
DAY 1 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2024 (all times EDT)
CLOSED SESSION—COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY
| 10:00 AM | CLOSED SESSION |
| 5:00 PM | ADJOURN |
DAY 2 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2024 (all times EDT)
CLOSED SESSION—COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY
| 9:00 AM | CLOSED SESSION |
| 3:00 PM | ADJOURN |
Meeting 5—Virtual
November 6, 2024
CLOSED SESSION—COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY
| 1:30 PM | CLOSED SESSION |
| 5:30 PM | ADJOURN |
Meeting 6—Virtual
January 7, 2025
CLOSED SESSION—COMMITTEE MEMBERS ONLY
| 2:00 PM | CLOSED SESSION |
| 5:00 PM | ADJOURN |
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