The Columbia University Lyme Disease Research Center was envisioned over 5 years ago by Diane Blanchard and Debbie Siciliano, co-Presidents of Time for Lyme, Inc, who then realized that the best way to move Lyme disease research forward was to support a major research effort at an internationally prominent institution. Columbia University was chosen because of its national respect as a center for research excellence and because it was the home of researchers currently involved in major research efforts on chronic Lyme disease. One additional advantage of Columbia University is that it has access to so many patients who have been afflicted by Lyme disease. In addition to coming from the heavily Lyme afflicted surrounding areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, patients can easily travel to Columbia from around the United States to participate in research or to receive a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.

The Columbia University Lyme Disease Research Center was envisioned over 5 years ago by Diane Blanchard and Debbie Siciliano, co-Presidents of Time for Lyme, Inc, who then realized that the best way to move Lyme disease research forward was to support a major research effort at an internationally prominent institution. In discussion with the Time for Lyme, Inc Board of Directors and with Pat Smith and the board of the Lyme Disease Association, Columbia University was chosen because of its national reputation as a center for research excellence and because it was the home of researchers currently involved in major research efforts on chronic Lyme disease. One additional advantage of Columbia University is that it has access to so many patients who have been afflicted by Lyme disease. In addition to coming from the heavily Lyme afflicted surrounding areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, patients can easily travel to Columbia from around the United States to participate in research or to receive a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.

Efforts toward the creation of the Columbia University Lyme Disease Research Center have continued steadily since 2000 with both Time for Lyme, Inc and the Lyme Disease Association, Inc joining forces to raise funds to help to establish the first Center for the Study of Chronic Lyme Disease in the United States. Our Center will be devoted to supporting research locally here at Columbia and across the United States through a competitive grant program.

We appreciate the generosity of our donors (please seek Acknowledgements) and are thankful that people like you choose to help fight Lyme disease by continuing to fund important research efforts both here at Columbia and elsewhere at academic centers throughout the country.

As the only Research Program at a major Academic Center in the country devoted to unraveling the biological causes and treatment of chronic Lyme disease, our team at Columbia will ensure that your funds are used wisely and carefully to tackle this disease.

Please consider making a donation by mail. Donations are tax deductible and can be made in honor of a person, in memory of a friend or loved one, or in lieu of a gift. You can also target your donation toward the establishment of the Lyme Research Center or toward the support of the Fellowship Training Program.

If your company or organization has a Matching Gift Program, please forward the matching gift form to Columbia University's Lyme Disease Research Program at the address below.

Lyme Disease Research Program
Columbia University
1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 69
New York, New York 10032

Opportunities exist as well to establish endowed academic professorships or programs on Lyme disease. If you would like further information about opportunities for major gift donations, please contact Dr. Brian Fallon at 212-543-5487 or Dr. Kathy Corbera at 212-543-6508 and we will guide you in the most appropriate way to target your gift.