Leading the Fight on Lyme Disease

The G. Magnotta Foundation and the G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab Leading the Fight on Lyme Disease

The G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases is built on resilience, commitment and profound humanity. Rossana Magnotta, founder and President, created the G. Magnotta Foundation in loving memory of her husband, Gabe, to support actionable Lyme research for the benefit of others.

In that pursuit, the G. Magnotta Foundation delivered a $1.4M gift in 2017 to the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph and the G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab was established.

A powerful partnership was born with Dr. Melanie Wills, lab director and professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology — who is also a long-term Lyme patient herself. Together, the Foundation and Lab are laser focused on solving the major stumbling blocks of the disease, starting with diagnostic tools. Ultimately, they want to improve outcomes for Lyme disease patients and their advocates across Canada and beyond.

Since the partnership began, the G. Magnotta Foundation has delivered additional grants to the G. Magnotta Lab, growing their commitment to over $4.6M. Spurred by the Foundation’s contributions and inspired by Rossana’s remarkable strength and empathy, the G. Magnotta Lab is bringing greater insight to a consequential and complex disease.

Their shared pursuit of solutions continues and on November 21, the G. Magnotta Foundation proudly hosted its inaugural Ice Ice Gala and unveiled an inspiring glimpse behind the scenes of the U of G Lab and the human factors that motivate the scientists. The video features Research Associate Justin Wood, who brings a deeply personal perspective to the fight against Lyme disease after experiencing it himself. Justin is working alongside the lab team to advance diagnostics and improve outcomes for those affected.

“The University of Guelph’s partnership and unwavering support have been the backbone of this journey. Together, we are creating meaningful change in how Lyme Disease patients are tested and treated—not just here at home, but around the world,” shared Rossana Magnotta in her remarks at the Ice Ice Gala.

Much of the passion that exists for this science derives from shared Lyme disease exposure – and suffering – by members of the team. Like the G. Magnotta Foundation, personal experiences have magnified the teams’ collective motivation and solidified an individual, patient-centric response to the unique presentations and progress of the disease.

In fact, Lyme symptoms vary widely, and disease progression differs and/or overlaps significantly from one individual to the next while factors like immune system response, genetics and even gender can obstruct effective diagnoses and treatment protocols, demanding interventions almost as unique as the infected person.

Science is the best weapon against borrelia, the sophisticated pathogen that causes Lyme disease. The team at the G. Magnotta Lab are digging down to foundational questions while utilizing new technology and a multi-disciplinary, One Health approach in their mission to identify and implement the most effective fight against Lyme.

These same scientists understand the urgency of actionable research because borrelia carrying ticks are an increasingly populous menace. It is inevitable that with each passing year, more people will be threatened by Lyme.

“It is a privilege to contribute to a field where new knowledge and mitigation strategies are so desperately needed, and we can imagine the long-term impact of our work. The G. Magnotta Foundation has been bold and transformative in their vision, and we have immense gratitude for these opportunities that they have created” says Dr. Melanie Wills.

In a testament to the power of the human spirit, Rossana Magnotta channeled her grief into something meaningful and good. She and others who joined her have shown us the way to support ingenuity for everyone’s benefit. The passionate collaboration between the G. Magnotta Foundation and the University of Guelph will help us improve lives and save lives by changing the trajectory of a complex, debilitating and even lethal disease.