Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a major federal push Friday to combat Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, unveiling new research, prevention, and patient-care initiatives.
Speaking in New Hampshire, one of the states hardest hit by Lyme disease, Kennedy said HHS will launch a multimillion-dollar pilot program, expand research on Alpha-gal syndrome, offer up to $2.5 million in innovation prizes, and help patients connect with experienced providers.
“Millions of Americans battling Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses have spent years searching for answers, treatment, and support,” Kennedy said. “Today, the Trump administration is launching one of the most ambitious federal efforts ever to combat Lyme disease.”
The announcement comes as Lyme disease continues to spread across the country. Approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, according to the nonprofit Global Lyme Alliance.
In a press release, HHS said emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest springtime level in nearly a decade. The department has set a goal of reducing Lyme disease cases by 25% by 2035 compared with 2022 levels.
The new federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-led pilot program will target ticks on wildlife before they spread disease to humans.
The effort will begin with researchers at the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases and include collaboration with the Indian Health Service and the Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts.
HHS said the National Institutes of Health invests nearly $50 million annually in Lyme disease research and about $122 million each year in broader tick-borne disease research.
Kennedy also announced new action on Alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-associated condition that can trigger serious allergic reactions to red meat and other mammalian products.
CDC estimates nearly 500,000 Americans are living with Alpha-gal syndrome, though HHS said the actual number could be significantly higher.
NIH is expected to support clinical research evaluating products that may help prevent people from developing Alpha-gal syndrome after a tick bite.
HHS also unveiled three new LymeX innovation challenges offering up to $2.5 million in total prize funding.
The challenges include awards for public awareness campaigns, treatment, and patient-care solutions, and an artificial intelligence competition designed to help patients with Lyme disease and other invisible illnesses obtain answers and access care faster.
The initiatives build on the LymeX Innovation Accelerator, a public-private partnership between HHS and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation launched during President Donald Trump’s first term.
HHS recently launched a $10 million Diagnostics Prize through LymeX to accelerate development of faster and more accurate Lyme disease tests.
The agency also announced a collaboration with the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, allowing patients to access the group’s clinician locator tool through HHS’s Lyme disease website.
