Turn the Corner Foundation 2007 Granting Spotlight

TTC gives grants to organizations and individuals who are committed to finding a cure for Lyme disease through research initiatives and/or education programs on Lyme disease. If you are interested in applying for a grant from TTC, please submit a proposal by January 15, 2008. Click here for the TTC grant application.

One of our first grant recipients in 2008 has been to Open Eye Pictures , for the production of a film titled UNDER OUR SKIN. This film exposes the realities of Lyme disease and tells the story of various people coping with the epidemic. It is our belief that this film will give the Lyme disease movement a greater platform from which to help others currently fighting the illness and will create an even greater community dedicated to ending this disease.

The Physicians Training Program has grown exponentially in 2007 and continues to bring Lyme-literate physicians to areas around the country that traditionally do not have access to this type of medical specialty. With funding from TTC, health care professionals are now being trained around the world to recognize and treat this disease successfully bringing relief to the many that may have lost hope for a pain-free future because of Lyme disease.

Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano Jr.’s Lyme and Associated Diseases Registry™ continues to be a successful Turn the Corner funded program. This program collects information from physicians domestically and internationally on the treatment and diagnosis methods used for Lyme disease. This program has the unique ability to filter all of the methods used by health care professionals into a comprehensive database system. This database will ultimately allow researchers to identify and publicize the most commonly used and effective measures for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and is a critical component to finding a cure. Is your physician participating in this program? Make sure you ask your Lyme-literate physician if they are currently involved in the Registry and if they are not, insist they take part. To learn more about this program, please contact info@turnthecorner.org.

The Lyme Educational Awareness Development Series (LEADS) was launched this fall and we are currently witnessing the program’s first local educational events on Lyme disease in communities across the country. LEADS enables people in communities outside of New York City, where TTC is located, to host their own educational event, educate their community on Lyme disease and raise money for a cause that has meaning to them. If you are interested in becoming a LEADER, please contact Ken.

TTC funded several innovative research programs in 2007 including the Columbia University Medical Student Lyme-Literacy Program, Genesis Laboratories’ study that develops a novel approach for Lyme disease control by decreasing deer tick burdens on wild white-footed mice, and the Lyme Induced Autism Foundation’s study on the connections between Lyme disease and autism. This study has recently found that 26% of children with autism tested were positive for Borrelia burdorferi through IgeneX labs. Also, in collaboration with Immunosciences Laboratory, they tested over 50 children for Bb and found a 22% positive rate. It has been amazing to watch their progress and we are confident that these studies will create long-term change in the Lyme disease research community for years to come.

In other news, one of our Medical Advisory Board members, Dr. Charles Ray Jones, continues to work on his legal case against the Connecticut Department of Public Health for his work with children who have Lyme disease. Dr. Jones’ legal fees are astronomical and he needs every bit of support we can give to him. His work has been very important to children with Lyme disease and we encourage people to support him in his time of need. If you would like to make a donation to The Charles Ray Jones, M.D. Legal Defense Fund, please click here.

TTC looks forward to a new year of innovative programs in Lyme disease and is thrilled to continue supporting the programs that have made such a difference in 2007. If you are interested in applying for a grant, please contact info@turnthecorner.org or fill out an application by clicking here.