Tick Boot Camp Episode 368: Focus on Lyme - an interview with Tammy Crawford
Aug 16, 2023
01:13:43
Intro:
- Warm welcome to Tony Felice, our returning special guest co-host from episode 335: Kindness in Combat.
- Introduction to Tammy Crawford, Executive Director of Focus on Lyme.
Tammy's Personal Journey:
- The personal story of Tammy's daughter, Jessica, who battled Lyme disease.
- The emotional and medical challenges faced by Tammy in seeking proper treatment and diagnosis for Jessica.
- Encounter with Dr. Horowitz and the importance of finding a Lyme-literate physician.
Focus On Lyme:
- Tammy's response to the Lyme community's struggles, including the formation of the non-profit Focus On Lyme.
- Collaborative efforts with past podcast guests and their significant accomplishments, including:
- Speaking on Capitol Hill.
- Organizing research conferences.
- Funding advancements in Lyme disease testing.
- Overview of Tammy's bio-repository and its purpose.
The TGen Connection:
- The recurring appearance of TGen in Tammy's journey and their role in Lyme disease research.
- Specific discussions and projects with TGen.
Focus on Accurate Diagnosis:
- Tammy's emphasis on the importance of accurate diagnosis to garner more funding and attention.
- The challenges and limitations of current diagnostic measures and the potential of next-gen serology.
Breakthroughs & Discoveries:
- Collaboration with researchers and scientists in the Lyme community.
- Exciting advancements in Lyme disease research, including potential overlaps with cancer treatments.
- The complexity of Lyme disease strains and the importance of understanding the differences.
Funding & Future Steps:
- The financial challenges and efforts to fund more research, especially diagnostic improvements.
- Tammy and her team are working on an FDA-cleared Lyme diagnostic tool.
Conclusion & Call to Action: