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Impact Report2018-2023

IMPACTWe strive to end the epidemic of tick-borne diseases. We work tenaciouslyEducating the public in innovative ways.Funding research in diagnostics and therapeutics.Advocating for meaningful solutions.Supporting patients through their Lyme Journey.MISSIONOur mission is to eradicate the epidemic of tick-borne diseasesthrough awareness and education, support of cutting-edge science,and advocacy for solutions to end the suffering.“It's heartwarming to see all the support ProjectLyme has been given. We remain dedicated to ourmission, and to building a team that will take usforward, pursuing solutions to this mostcomplicated and devasting problem.” Jennifer Weis and Nan Kurzman, Board Chairs

ExpensesWe have raised over $5 million to combat the effects of tick-borne diseases.Financial SummaryProject Lyme’s Board of Directors covers all of our operationalexpenses, meaning 100% of donor contributions directly fundour programs. Here is a look at how funds are distributed. RevenueEducation52.4%Research33.3%Advocacy9.5%Support4.8%Income2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023$0$500,000$1,000,000$1,500,000$2,000,000

EducationWe offer extensive programming to educate patients, doctors, and the publicabout tick-borne diseases. These programs include - National Public Service Announcements: Our Lyme is a Thief PSA series aired atotal of 19,365 times on 64 different TV stations in 30 states across the countryincluding ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and more! Information Driven Webinars: Since December 2020 we have hosted 20+ webinarsattended by thousands of doctors, patients, and their family members. Cutting-Edge Website: In March 2021, we launched a brand new projectlyme.org,which incorporates "Your Lyme Journey" as a tool for to easily access targetedinformation on tick-borne diseases. Multi-Channel Communications: We share relevant information daily on socialmedia and weekly via the LymeNotes newsletter, providing updates on research,patient resources, and support opportunities in the world of tick-borne diseases.45,000+S O C I A L M E D I A F O L L O W E R S5,000+N E W S L E T T E R S U B S R I B E R SFeatured patient advocate Ashley Trent

EducationEngaging In-Person Events: In an increasingly virtual world, getting people togetherin person has gotten significantly harder. However, it does not make it any lessimportant. Since 2018 we have hosted many events aimed at educating attendeesand raising funds, including 4 galas in New York City and 2 gatherings in Chicago.Featuring celebrities and well-known scientific experts, we have had thousands ofpeople in attendance. Building Lightings: Since 2021, Project Lyme has partnered with mutiple buildingsand national landmarks to educate about tick-borne disease. Partners include TheHelsmley Building in NYC, Willis and Hancock Towers in Chicago, as well as NiagaraFalls Park Service. They all have lit green to raise awareness and honor patients. Project Lyme members with gala host Jenna Bush Hager Keynote speaker Dr. John AucottThe Helmsley Building in NYC, May 2021Hancock Tower in Chicago, May 2023

EducationSponsor Powerful Films: Cinema can change the hearts and minds of the masses.That is why Project Lyme decided to support The Quiet Epidemic. It has since beenfeatured in mutiple film festivals and debuted at #1 on the Itunes Documentarysection. Project Lyme is proud have funded a portion of the films distribution andmarketing costs, as well as sponsor 3 screenings across the country, in New York City,Jacksonville, Florida, and Hagerstown, Maryland.Support Scientific Conferences: Educating doctors is one of the best things we cando to directly improve patient care. Since 2022, Project Lyme has sponsored severalconferences aimed at educating doctors. Our partnership with the International Lymeand Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) has funded 10 doctors attendance at theirannual scientific conference. We were also a sponsoring member of the 2023 TickAcademy conference, offered by the Integrated Pest Management Institute.Dr. Kerry Clark speaking to a crowd of200+ at the screening in JacksonvilleA clip from The Quiet EpidemicJr. Board Member Ashley Baker speakingat the screening in MarylandDoctors observing a presentation at the 2022ILADS conference in Orlando, FloridaProject Lyme’s table at the 2023 ILADSconference in Boston, Massachusets

EducationMedia Engagement: Members of Project Lyme have been featured in numerouspublications over the years including the New York Times, NBC, USA Today, and more!

ResearchOur Partnership Project Lyme is proud of our partnership with the Bay Area Lyme Foundation (BAL). Since joining forces in 2018, we have granted over $1,700,000 to BAL managed researchprojects. We continue raising funds to put towards impactful projects focused ondeveloping better diagnostic methods and more effective therapeutics.Our ResearchWe have supported 17 projects with 15 different researchers. The following informationdescribes multi-year projects. It is important to note that many of the projects are still inprogress and Project Lyme may have only contributed a % of total funds.

2018Artem Rogovskyy, DVM, PhD, DACVM, Texas A&M University is workingto develop a better diagnostic for Lyme disease by exploring the Ramanspectroscopy-based approach for the diagnosis of Lyme disease.Janakiram Seshu, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio is limiting oreliminating the survival and transmission of Lyme disease pathogen betweenticks and reservoir hostsFlightpath Biosciences, Inc. is studying clinical biomarkers for PersistentLyme Disease.William Robinson, MD, PhD, Stanford University is studying the molecularmechanisms of autoimmune diseases and developing therapeutics.2020Brian R. Crane, PhD, Cornell University is identifying antimicrobialtreatment for Lyme.Yuko Nakajima, PhD, Brandeis University is blocking immune evasion byBorrelia burgdorferi and other pathogens.Geetha Parthasarathy, PhD, Tulane University is developing noveltherapeutics for Lyme neuroborreliosisMichal Caspi Tal, PhD, Stanford University is determining if a proteinmarker prevents the immune system from killing Borrelia burgdorferi andscreen compounds that may be able to block this interaction.Yong Zhou, PhD, Institute for Systems Biology is exploring the hostresponse during acute and prolonged exposure to Borrelia burgdoferi.Projects SummaryResearch HighlightBy evaluating human blood samples, the researchteam at Texas A&M University was able to identifyBorrelia infection with 88% accuracy, 85%sensitivity, and 90% specificity using Ramanspectroscopy. This light-based test is commonlyused in chemistry labs to evaluate human bloodsamples and may serve to address the immediateneed for more sensitive diagnostics in Lyme disease This research was published October 26, 2022, inthe peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Cellular andInfection Microbiology. Artem Rogovskyy, DVM, Ph.D.Texas A&M University

20232022Projects SummarySapient is working to develop a chronic Lyme disease molecule marker.Emir Hodzic, PhD, UC Davis & Duke University is evaluating the efficacy oftethered inhibitors of HtpG for eliminating Borrelia burgdorferi infection ina mouse model.Artem Rogovskyy, DVM, Ph.D., and Dzmitry Kurouski, DVM, Ph.D.,Texas A&M University are validating the Raman spectroscopy-basedapproach for the diagnosis of Lyme disease. This is our second timeproviding funds to this project. Monica Embers, Ph.D, Tulane University is analyzing human tissuespecimens for Borrelia burgdorferi.Geetha Parthasarathy, Ph.D., Tulane University is assessing thefibroblast growth factor system in human biological fluids as novelbiomarkers of Lyme disease.Kerry Clark, PhD, University of North Florida - searching for tick-bornepathogens in Rocky Mountain Wood ticks in the Bitterroot Mountains ofWestern Montana.Tim Haystead, Ph.D., Duke University, is working to develop novel smallmolecule inhibitors that target the Borrelia burgdorferi’s proteins andeliminate the bacteria. By attaching fluorescent chemical compounds calledfluorophores to the inhibitor, scientists can also use them as a diagnostic.Geetha Parthasarathy, Ph.D., Tulane University, is furthering her 2022research evaluating fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors as atherapeutic. This is our second time providing funds for this project. Research HighlightBy applying a molecular targeting strategy to Borreliaburgdorferi, the research team at Duke University hasdeveloped a novel drug candidate. Building on thefoundational research of the late Dr. Neil Spector, anextremely promising drug HS-291was created. In labstudies, this compound can irreversibly damageBorrelia burgdorferi in vitro. This research waspublished November 1, 2023, in the peer-reviewedjournal Cell Chemical Biology. Tim Haystead, Ph.D., Duke University

AdvocacyOur Work Lyme disease is historically underfunded compared to other infectious diseases. Tocombat this disparity Project Lyme became a founding member of the Center for LymeAction, a bipartisan 501 c4 non-profit organization dedicated to growing federal fundingfor Lyme disease in an effort to find a cure.Project Lyme annually support this initiative with:Funding: We have granted a total of $225,000 since 2019, including the initial seedfunding needed to establish the 501c4. Representation: We represent 25% of Center for Lyme Action's board leadership. Volunteers: Our community is vast and dedicated to the cause. During legislativeevents, we help organize patient representatives to speak directly with legislators. $282MA D D I T I O N A L F U N D I N G F O R T I C K -B O R N E D I S E A S E S I N C E 2 0 1 9Project Lyme stands at the forefront of advocacy, championing the causefor patients by offering essential resources and actively collaborating withorganizations like the Center for Lyme Action. Together, we advocate forcrucial policy reforms at the federal level, striving to ensure that patientscan access required care. Alexandra Moresco, Project Lyme Board Member

SupportOur GroupsProject Lyme serves as an incubator for patient support groups. Our first supportinitiative, Generation Lyme, was founded in 2019 to create a community for youngpeople facing Lyme disease. They quickly grew and became their own 501c3 in 2022. TheMothers Against Lyme program took their place as Project Lyme’s support prgram,hosting meet-ups for mothers who are sick or have sick children.Our MethodsMeet-Ups: One of the best avenues of support for Lyme patients is to connectpersonally with other patients. Mothers Against Lyme hosts Meet-Ups twice a month.Stories: Lyme disease impacts people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.Through our unique, intimate, and informative social media campaigns, we aim toshare the full range of ways in which Lyme disease impacts lives.Our Results100+M E E T - U P S1000+A T T E N D E E SMeet-ups are an invaluable resource providingconnection, support, inspiration, hope, and guidanceto mothers caring for children with Lyme Disease.”Anne Marie-Moneta, Mothers Aginst Lyme member

Thanks For Your SupportFrom everyone on the Project Lyme teamJunior BoardOlivia AbramsAshley BakerRyan BellGrace BurnsKim KatzAnnabel MonskyReema ShahRohan ShahExecutiveCommitteeMelissa BellKim DicksteinSusan GoldenbergNan KurzmanNina LeveneAli MorescoScott MorescoIsabel Rose David RothMark WeberJennifer WeisBoard At-Large andAdvisory MembersSteve AbramsPhyllis BedfordScott BedfordDr. Robert BransfieldBob ForsterDr. Jane MarkeDr. Richard HorowitzStaffDirector- Noah JohnstonMarketing Manager- Davia Sills