TAL RESEARCH GROUP

Pioneering Infection-Associated Chronic Illness Research

The Tal Research Group at MIT is an immunoengineering lab mapping the trajectory of immune responses to infection.

We study chronic Lyme and acute Lyme disease, Long Covid, and ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), and their associated pathologies and co-occurring conditions.

We conduct translational, clinically significant research to advance understanding, diagnostics, and treatments for these complex chronic illnesses. We build innovative predictive diagnostic tools that accelerate knowledge of disease trajectories and biomarkers. Led by Dr. Mikki Tal, our interdiscliplinary research uses cutting edge technology to fill in key knowledge gaps and identify impactful findings.

We are based in the MIT Department of Biological Engineering and in the MIT Center for Gynepathology Research.


Research Topics


We seek to conduct innovative, high-impact research exploring unanswered questions about how people develop chronic illness after infection and who is at greatest risk for these complex illnesses.

  • Sex differences in chronic illnesses and in immune responses to infection
    Research on sex differences in disease mechanisms, clinical presentations, and trajectories, and the roles of the immune system and sex hormones in these differences.

  • Predictive diagnostics: Immune-based tests to predict who develops chronic illness and who recovers after infection
    We developed and are trialing innovative new testing that may predict who will develop chronic illness after infection. This is currently focused on acute and chronic Lyme disease, and we hope to expand this testing to Long COVID and ME/CFS.

  • Immunological, neurological and other mechanisms of chronic illness
    This includes antibody research and deep immune profiling of pathological responses to infectious triggers. In our MAESTRO clinical study, we are using cutting-edge, non-invasive, neurocognitive and neurological testing to measure cognitive impairment, brain waves and brain electrical activity, eye movement tracking, autonomic dysfunction, brain blood flow, and more.

  • Potential biomarkers of infection-associated chronic illnesses
    We are looking for new biomarkers of chronic disease in our clinical study, where we collect six different types of non-invasive biological samples.

  • Immune - pathogen interactions
    We study how pathogens interact with the immune system, such as potentially triggering allergy or evading immune responses to proliferate. We are particularly interested in the implications of this research for the development of effective treatments for infection-associated illnesses, especially acute and chronic Lyme disease.

  • Connections across similar and co-occuring chronic illnesses
    Chronic Lyme, Long COVID, ME/CFS, Dysautonomia/POTS, mast cell activation disorders, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and connective tissue disorders like hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. We study their overlaps and comorbidities; shared pathophysiology, pathomechanisms, symptoms and risk factors; and similarities and differences across this group of illnesses in a research unit called Project Connect at MIT, led by Research Scientist Beth Pollack.

  • Mouse models of infection-associated chronic illnesses and immune responses to infection
    We have a particular focus on organ pathology in murine research on acute and chronic Lyme disease.

  • Environmental exposures and relative risk for acquiring infection-associated chronic illnesses
    We seek to explore the impacts of environmental exposures, such as to toxic chemicals and mold, in illness development and trajectories.

  • Connective tissue damage and disorders in infection-associated chronic illnesses
    We assess for skin integrity and hypermobility in our MAESTRO clinical study. In our Project Connect at MIT research, we explore mechanisms of connective tissue damage and disorders in infection-associated chronic illnesses, as well as related spinal conditions. This area of research is led by Beth Pollack. We are also working on a case study on a potential therapeutic.

  • Mechanisms of reproductive conditions in infection-associated chronic illnesses
    This includes mouse models of reproductive and gynecological conditions similar to endometriosis.

Select Research Projects

  • MAESTRO


    Our longitudinal clinical study explores the immunology and neurology of acute and chronic Lyme disease and Long COVID. This includes comprehensive, non-invasive immunological, neurological, neurocognitive, and skin integrity/hypermobility testing, and multiple bioloigical sample collections, to look for biomarkers of disease and pathogen persistence.

    Read about MAESTRO here

  • Sexx + Immunity


    We explore how bioloogical sex and sex hormones impact a) chronic illness trajectories and b) normal and pathological immune responses to infection and other immune triggers.

    Read about our series of talks here

  • Predictive Diagnostics

    Developing novel immune-based predictive diagnostics for infection-associated chronic illnesses (called “FLIP”) to predict who develops chronic illness after infection and who recovers.

  • Deep Immune Profiling


    Comprehensive antibody profiling and immune phenotyping in chronic Lyme disease and similar chronic illnesses to inform the identification of therapeutic targets and the development of new immune-based therapeutics.

  • Cross-Illness Research

    Project Connect encompasses research projects studying the overlaps; shared pathophysiology, triggers and risk factors; and similarities and differences across co-occuring chronic illnesses including chronic Lyme, Long Covid, ME/CFS and more. It includes deep dives into less studied pathologies and the prevalence of comorbidities. Led by Beth Pollack, this innovative cross-illness approach breaks down traditional silos to advance translational knowlege of these illnesses as a group.

  • Infection and Allergy

    Our “IgE project” explores whether someone can become allergic to a pathogen or a persisting piece of a pathogen, and whether this may be occurring in chronic Lyme disease. This research explores mast cell activation and pathological allergy in mouse models of chronic Lyme disease.

  • Mouse models of Lyme disease, including reproductive health

    We develop mouse models of acute and chronic Lyme disease, and hope to expand this work into other infection-associated chronic illnesses. Our murine research studies infection-associated organ and joint damage, dermatitis, mast cell activation, and the development of reproductive conditions similar to endometriosis in mice.

  • Pathogens and mechanisms of persistent infections

    We study how Borrelia Burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease), can block critical immune checkpoints and evade the immune system, impacting the efficacy of antibiotics to clear infection. We’ve also found a novel protein that can inhibit Borrelia growth and inhibit proliferation of infection. We call these our “P66” and “SCGB1D2” research projects.


We’ve launched the largest clinical study in MIT history!

Learn about our innovative, multi-illness MAESTRO study to uncover mechanisms of acute and chronic Lyme and Long Covid, and compare across illnesses. We also hope to add an ME/CFS cohort, and we screen for dysautonomia and connnective tissue disorders in the study.

Dr. Tal in the lab sorting cells on a flow cytometer.

We utilize and develop cutting-edge technology for immune profiling.

NEWS

The Boston Globe Profiled Our Research

The Tal Research Group “is already discerning differences in the ratios among various types of antibodies in Lyme patients before they even start taking their initial course of antibiotics. The configurations look different in those who will be fine after treatment, versus those who just get sicker and sicker.”

The Tal Research Group is awarded the NIH’s first ever grant funding to study chronic Lyme disease!

Click here to read the NIH press release.

“Broadening our understanding of PTLDS may also contribute to our knowledge of a broader set of infection-associated chronic illnesses, such as Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Without understanding the biologic processes of these conditions, it will be very difficult to develop effective clinical interventions.”