In this section, the Lyme Disease Association (LDA) brings to your attention news on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases’ science that is being published in peer-review, news from Lyme organizations on events they are providing, other Lyme-related sources, and news from government sources that might impact the general public or those whose lives have been affected by tick-borne diseases. The LDA attempts to bring you factual information from credible sources with its news items. If the item is an opinion piece, that is generally noted. See submenu of News to the right.
Largest NSF PFI Grant Ever Awarded to LSU! Professor to Synthesize Affordable Nootkatone
Louisiana State University announced (03.25.2024) that they have received the largest National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation (NSF PFI) grant ever awarded to LSU, $550,000. With this grant, LSU Chemical Engineering (ChE) Professor Kerry Dooley, LSU (ChE) Department Chair and Professor Mike Benton, and LSU Department of Biological Sciences (Biol. Sci.) Professor Roger Laine will continue their work on nootkatone, an FDA-approved repellent to ticks and insects. Nootkatone is an organic compound found in grapefruit skin and Alaska yellow cedar trees that has already been shown to be safer and more effective than existing commercial tick & insect repellents. The problem is that this compound is currently too expensive to synthesize for consumer use.