Welcome!
Our research on Lyme disease during pregnancy aims to help families affected by Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
By participating in one of our Lyme Disease in Pregnancy studies, you can help us learn how to treat and protect future babies, children, and families.
Pregnant Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for pregnant volunteers who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease during this pregnancy OR with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) in the past 5 years.
We are doing the first research study on long-term child development after in utero Lyme disease exposure. This paid study is available to pregnant participants over 18 years of age living anywhere in the United States and Canada. If you participate in this study, you will join while you are pregnant. We will follow up with you over time until your baby is 18 months old.
If you are interested, please fill out our interest form and a member of our team will contact you soon.
Current Studies
Pregnancy and Early Neurodevelopmental Outcomes after In Utero Lyme Disease Exposure (PI: Sarah Mulkey, MD, PhD)
We are doing this study to learn about how Lyme disease exposure during pregnancy may impact babies’ brain growth and development.
This pilot study is the first study to systematically follow Lyme disease-exposed infants through pregnancy and childhood and track their development. Our pilot study will hopefully lay the groundwork for a future study where we can learn even more about Lyme disease during pregnancy and the complexities of diagnosis, treatment, and potential effects on the developing brain.
The main goal of our current study is to assess the feasibility of recruiting pregnant patients with Lyme disease and following their infants through age 18 months.
We aim to see if babies exposed to Lyme disease have any differences in their brains or development as they grow up. We will also explore pregnancy outcomes associated with Lyme disease during pregnancy and see if there are differences in outcomes based on the timing of diagnosis, Lyme-related symptoms, and treatment.
If you join the study, you will get feedback about your child’s growth after each study visit. If your child needs more support, we will work with you to get your child the help they need. You will be paid for each study-related task.
Study Timeline
Pregnancy
You will complete surveys and receive free blood testing, fetal MRI, and ultrasound. You may also share your experiences with Lyme disease and pregnancy in an interview with our study team.
Delivery
We will work with your hospital to do a clinical analysis of your placenta. Our expert pathologist will run additional tests to see if there are any abnormalities in your placenta that may affect your baby.
Child Development
We will use standardized tests to monitor your baby’s development over 18 months. Our neurologist will assess your child’s growth at no cost to you. This includes a free infant brain MRI and ultrasound.
For more information, please visit our page on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06026969).
Parents’ Experiences of Navigating Pregnancy and Parenthood
with Lyme Disease (PI: Sarah Mulkey, MD, PhD)
There are many ways that Lyme disease can impact someone while they are pregnant or parenting.
While no two people’s experiences are the same, we want to better understand what challenges people with Lyme disease face in their parenthood journeys- and how they overcome them.
This mixed methods study is the first study to explore the experiences of pregnancy and parenting among people who had Lyme disease while pregnant. This includes acute Lyme disease, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and other chronic symptoms attributed to Lyme.
Participants in this study completed surveys and an interview with a member of the study team over Zoom. Data analysis is in progress.
For more information, please visit our page on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06397794).
What if I’m not eligible for any current studies, or I don’t know if I can join?
No problem! If you would like to talk with a coordinator about joining one of our studies, or you would like to stay connected with our team for future research opportunities, please reach out to us at cnhlymestudy@gmail.com or 202-476-3388.
Lyme Disease in Pregnancy Research 