Canadian Lyme Consortium makes announcement to Lyme community
February 6th, 2018
On behalf of a growing team of scientists, advocates, and clinicians, we wanted to let you know about a national research network that is taking shape to confront the escalating Lyme disease crisis. The Canadian Lyme Consortium has evolved from the urgent need to accelerate progress in the understanding, detection, and treatment of Lyme disease, and to do so by meaningfully engaging patients in all levels of this process. The network unites advocates, established Lyme research groups including the Mount Allison Lyme Disease Research Network, The G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab at the University of Guelph, the Tick Microbiome Initiative at the University of Alberta, and other leaders in the fields of microbiology (Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval) and human and animal health who are eager to apply their skills to this challenging disease. Together, we are committed to blazing a fresh trail informed by modern technologies, highly ethical research standards, and new approaches. As the Consortium develops, you can expect to see more visibility (website coming soon) as well as opportunities to contribute and participate. We look forward to working with you toward a brighter future.
Sincerely,
Vett Lloyd, Professor, Department of Biology, Mount Allison Lyme Research Network
Brenda Sterling-Goodwin, Patient representative
Roger C. Levesque, Full professor microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Research Scholar of Exceptional Merit FRQS, IBIS, Université Laval
Melanie K. B. Wills, Adjunct Professor, Director, G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, University of Guelph
Cezar Khursigara, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph
George Harauz, Professor, Canada Research Chair, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph
Vladimir Bamm, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph
Theresa Bernardo, Assistant Professor, IDEXX Chair in Emerging Technologies and Bond-Centered Animal Healthcare, Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph
Rossana Di Zio Magnotta, President & Founder, G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases
Linda Kelso, Ontario Lyme Alliance
Jennifer Kravis, Co-founder & Director, LymeHope
Sue Faber, Co-founder, LymeHope
Felix Sperling, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
Janet Sperling, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
Kathy Edens Magor, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
Ralph Hawkins, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Jim Wilson, President, Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation (CanLyme)
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! My 10 year old was sick sick sick and dismissed dismissed dismissed. He got better on Ceftriaxone but now he is sick sick sick again. He is not being treated for Lyme now because he does not have pain in his knees. Thank you!!!! (Ontario)
I’m very interested in advocating as a patient who has had diagnosed Lyme for 10 months but has been through hell for 27 years.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for creating this national network. As I’m reading this announcement, I’m crying with happiness because I want my daughter to be able to get healthier.
this is good news. If there is anyway any of us out here and BC could get involved, please let us know.
This is so wonderful news Thanks so much .
Finally!! Its been a long weary road so far in Ontario thank goodness for our Dr in the States
This is Great News Indeed!
As a 50+ year veteran of this insidious disease I am very excited to hear this news. To see the names of so many knowledgeable professionals & advocates gives me hope and I look forward to an opportunity to become an active participant in the development of new & better practices for the Canadian Lyme community.
so glad to see this. In our family, all suffering from tick borne disease for decades, my son and daughter’s lives stolen from them, hope is hard to come by. We need to feel that there will be some treatment that might give us back some function, some life!! More power to all of us!
Wonderful news! Congrats to all pioneers of this wicked disease.
Kudos, for putting together a group, filled with brilliant and experienced people. I look forward to my future, with all of you on board. All the best in your fight to educate !!
Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency CCSVI/Neurovascular Disease
CCSVI is a Treatable Congenital Scientifically Confirmed Recognized Medical Condition Established and Confirmed causative factor in so called Multiple Sclerosis AND plays a part/role 43 other so called Neurological afflictions including Lyme disease !
Facilitate Research iinto Venous Angioplasty Blood Flow Treatment/s, as Baseline Primary Care Option, Treating Neurovascular & SO CALLED Autoimmune Disease!
Request of your Government Representative/s that availability for Canadians with NO options Scientific Clinical Trial Research into more than promising Treatments and Therapies!
#CCSVI #HSCT
Great news! We are heading the right direction! Thank you to all that fight for our Lyme sufferers
This announcement gives me long awaited hope ,you have put together a very impressive team and I thank each and everyone of you for taking this issue to another level .On behalf of the many, many people suffering from Chronic Lyme disease across Canada thank you .
Thank you so much! You are truly making a difference
This is great news. I was seeing Dr. B in the beginning, but when he stopped treating Lyme patients my only recourse was to see a doctor in the U.S. This was getting very expensive. It’s great to see this with so many knowledgeable people. Thank you!
So exciting! This amazing Team effort gives us hope,,,,with all these brilliant (as well as sympathetic) minds working together, soon we’ll understand this complicated disease and the best way to fight it. Such happy news!!
Rob Thomas (singer) details his wife’s 14 year long battle with Lyme and other tick-borne infections:
http://www.etonline.com/exclusive-rob-thomas-marisols-14-year-lyme-disease-battle-its-weird-alien-inhabited-my-wife-87787
Much more investigative work needs to be done and published re: how Lyme and other infections destroy venous and arterial tissues of the body.
Dear God. Thank you!!!
I have been sick with Lyme, Babesia and Bartonella for 20 years. I don’t pray for help for myself anymore but I do pray for the children. Children shouldn’t have to suffer this terrible condition but when they do there should be appropriate testing and help. But there isn’t in most cases. It is so very wrong. I am grateful that you are trying to turn a wrong into a right. Godspeed!
Is there a reason why Saskatchewan is not represented in this Consortium?
Tell me how Sask is not represented? The researchers are helping all of us. This is a brand new endeavor. This was an announcement to grow. What are your suggestions?
I realize that the researchers are helping everyone which is what we need and also that the Consortium is brand new. At least one member from every province would make it all inclusive across Canada.
A thank you to all those who went to bat relentlessly to get help for all Lyme sufferers … It will not be an easy fix but a very worthwhile one for so many men, women and children who have been unable to get diagnosed or treated for this dreaded disease. I read everyday about Lyme sufferers who have had to work on their own to find help for themselves and/or their families and to try to understand what is happening to them and what they can do about it. Too many sad and heartbreaking stories … So many are counting on this group to help them get the relief and help they need. Thank you for listening.
What is the specific research that will be conducted? Will it be “tissue research”, specific chronic lyme symptoms proof research”, “tick research”, or something else?. What is the time frame for beginning research and a project end? How much money, aside from Magnotta’s donation is needed and does the research team have it? What are the plans now that CHIR has refused the Research Consortium’s financing proposal? How will the research help those with chronic lyme, both in the short (1-3 years) and long term?
And finally….what happened to the research plans for Humber College from a few years back?
Good to see the Canadian Lyme Consortium getting off the ground.