The Bay Area Lyme Foundation has issued a request for applications for its Emerging Leader Award program.
These grants support new and innovative projects and aim to attract aspiring new scientific talent to the field of Lyme and other tickborne pathogen research. Candidate applications must include a viable proposal for a proof-of-concept project to be funded, in part or in sum, by the grant award. While the Foundation is particularly interested in applicants who have identified a defined approach to improving diagnostics or therapeutics for Lyme and other tickborne diseases, this award is open to all areas of research needed for patients.
This opportunity includes both the Lyme Disease Award, for researchers with a focus on Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), and the Tick-borne Pathogen Award, for a researcher focusing on non-Borrelia tick-borne pathogens/infections that occur frequently, either in combination with Lyme disease or as stand-alone investigations.
$150,000 will be awarded, for a 1-2 year project period.
Eligibility criteria include:
- Post-doctoral level through associate professor level or equivalent.
- Those who have not previously worked in Lyme or tickborne disease research are encouraged to apply.
Please see RFP for full criteria.
To Apply:
- This is an open RFP (UCSF may submit an unlimited number of applications).
- Follow application instructions in RFP, conferring with your Grants Officer as needed. Please notify your Grants Officer as soon as possible of your intention to apply to ensure that they will have enough time to support your application.
- Application deadline is February 15, 2026.
For more information and to review complete application instructions and eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.bayarealyme.org/our-research/emerging-leader-award/.