Lia Gaertner

Lia Gaertner is an Advisory Board Member at the Bay Area Lyme Foundation with extensive experience in translational medicine and bioengineering.12 She has been involved with the foundation since January 2013, bringing her unique perspective as both a scientist and a Lyme disease patient.2

Professional Background

Lia holds advanced degrees from prestigious institutions, including a Master's degree from Cornell University and further education through the UCSF-UC Berkeley and UCSF-Stanford Exchange programs.2 Her professional experience spans various roles within the Bay Area Lyme Foundation:

• Advisory Board Member (January 2013 - Present)
• Director of Education and Outreach (December 2019 - January 2023)
• Science Committee Member (September 2013 - December 2019)

Contributions to Lyme Disease Research and Awareness

Lia's work at the Bay Area Lyme Foundation is multifaceted:

• She collaborates with scientists, government agencies, universities, donors, patients, and the public to improve Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment.2
• Lia has been instrumental in organizing the annual LymeAid fundraising event, which has raised millions of dollars for research and featured celebrities like Diana Ross, Jay Leno, and Jeff Bridges.2
• She started the Ticktective Podcast and Video series, interviewing experts in the field.2
• As part of the Science Committee, she evaluated research proposals for tick-borne disease diagnostics, therapeutics, and ecology.2

Personal Connection to Lyme Disease

Lia's passion for Lyme disease research and advocacy stems from her personal experience. She was bitten by a Lyme-carrying tick in 1998 but was misdiagnosed until 2008, giving her firsthand knowledge of the challenges in diagnosing and treating tick-borne illnesses.1

Additional Roles and Expertise

Beyond her work with the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, Lia has served as a reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program's Tick-Borne Disease Research Program at the United States Department of Defense.2 She has also worked as a consultant for Halteres Associates, LLC, focusing on emerging diagnostics and botanical research related to disease prevention.2

Lia Gaertner's combination of scientific expertise, personal experience, and dedication to public health makes her a valuable asset to the Bay Area Lyme Foundation and the broader field of tick-borne disease research and advocacy.