More than 500 scientists from around the world are set to gather in Chicago for the 17th International Congress of Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases this September, but their attendance hangs in the balance due to funding cuts and a challenging political climate. This congress, scheduled for September 7-10, 2025, has been a crucial platform since its inception in 1982 for researchers to exchange knowledge on vaccines, diagnostics, treatments, and prevention strategies for tick bites, a pressing public health concern.
An estimated 400,000 cases of Lyme disease along with six other tick-borne illnesses occur each year in the United States alone, with another 300,000 cases reported in Europe and Asia. Currently, the NIH Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease funds 94 academic research projects on Lyme disease at colleges and universities across the U.S., totaling more than $77 million. However, funding for future research proposals has been suspended due to a ban on meetings that evaluate these new projects.
This suspension has far-reaching effects; existing projects are also in jeopardy as institutions struggle to secure financial backing amid uncertainties surrounding their continuation. The anticipation of the congress has also been dampened by growing concerns about lower-than-expected attendance. The organizers are currently responsible for a substantial $200,000 contract with a Chicago hotel for hosting the event.
In light of the current situation, attendance is expected to drop significantly. Issues surrounding travel restrictions imposed by the NIH and CDC, combined with uncertainties regarding the availability of grant funds for travel, have led to fears that fewer than half of the anticipated attendees may show up. Additionally, after the recent unlawful detention of German tourists, some scientists from Canada and Europe are opting out of participation due to the troubling political climate.
If the congress is ultimately canceled or operates with a markedly reduced number of attendees, it would lead to a decline in critical communication among leading scientists and a slowdown in advancements related to Lyme disease research. It would also impose a heavy financial burden on the volunteer organizers, potentially jeopardizing future congresses.
Against this backdrop, Lyme disease advocacy organizations and patients are urged to lobby their congressional representatives to lift the travel ban imposed by the NIH on meetings. As Durland Fish, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and current CEO of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, asserts, "Patients and the many Lyme disease advocacy organizations should lobby their congressional representatives to lift the NIH travel ban on meetings and assure grant recipients that already approved travel funds can be used to participate in this important meeting."
He emphasizes the urgent need for support to ensure that scientists can connect at this critical congress. Fish warns that without advocacy efforts, the potential for delays in Lyme disease research and innovations in treatment and prevention could stymie progress at a pivotal moment.
The upcoming congress not only symbolizes the commitment of scientists worldwide to tackling infectious diseases but also highlights the underlying challenges in public health funding and support. Active participation from international researchers is critical to advancing knowledge and developing solutions that can mitigate the burden of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
As the congress date approaches, the scientific community watches closely, hoping for a lift on travel restrictions and increased attendance to foster collaboration and dialogue that is essential for progress in Lyme disease research. Should the congress proceed as planned, it could reignite opportunities for groundbreaking discussions and advancements that have the potential to save countless lives affected by Lyme disease.
