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Who We Are

The Lyme Resource Centre (or LRC as commonly known) is a Scottish Registered charity. This unique Lyme disease charity is run by a team of trustees, volunteers and clinical advisers who give their time freely and voluntarily to help the charity meet its aims. It benefits from a highly skilled team of medical advisers, pharmacists, educationalists, engineers and other business professionals who guide and advise on policy, projects and collaborative partnerships.
 

Our registered office is in Kinghorn, Fife, but we operate virtually so no donations or funds raised are spent on buildings or workspaces. At present, only a small proportion of staff are employed to undertake part time roles; but we look forward to growing the organisation.
 

The charity was founded in 2019 by Prof Jack Lambert, alongside founding trustees Janey Cringean, Arlene Brailey and James Davies. Norman Lannigan OBE then joined as a trustee in 2021.

Our Team

Prof. John (Jack) Lambert

Founder of LRC and lead trustee

As founder of LRC and lead trustee, Prof. John (Jack) Lambert, is a Professor in Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and UCD School of Medicine, Dublin, with both extensive clinical and research expertise. He has been director of the National Isolation Unit for Highly Infectious Diseases at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and a member of the National Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Committee of the HSE. He has also been involved in the Sexual Health Strategy group in Ireland and teaching GPs in Ireland on the subject of STDs. He has been Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health since 2000 and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians since 2005. Prof Lambert has presented widely in the field of Lyme and co-infections since 2016 through EU and USA conferences supported by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). He has undertaken specialist training through ILADS and has significant experience of treating Lyme Disease and co-infections. He organises and runs Global Crypto-Infections Conferences, looking at the science behind Lyme Disease and co-infections. Three conferences have now been held in 2019, 2020 and 2023. Recorded presentations can be viewed here: https://www.lymeresourcecentre.com/educational

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Arlene Brailey

Trustee

Arlene is a registered pharmacist who worked as Assistant Director of NHS Education for Scotland (Pharmacy) for over 20 years. In 2020 she was designated as a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Arlene also developed and led an award-winning patient support programme from 2019-2023 for a national antibiotic research charity. She now provides educational consultancy work to the NHS. She uses her educational experience and expertise to guide the charity’s education programme for health professionals. Arlene also provides oversight of a variety of activities, programmes, and development campaigns for LRC as a trustee. She works with many of the volunteers to help deliver the plans and wide-ranging projects which raise awareness of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. Arlene was a carer for her son for over ten years, after he was bitten by a tick while hillwalking in the Scottish Highlands as a teenager. He subsequently suffered with undiagnosed Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. You can read more about Arlene's experience here: https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/opinion/would-my-son-have-his-lyme-disease-diagnosis-without-my-mothers-instinct-its-time-we-trusted-our-patients

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Norman Lannigan

Trustee

Norman is a retired pharmacist who has served the NHS in Scotland for forty years. He is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and was awarded an OBE for services to pharmacy and pharmaceutical care in October 2018. His last position was as Head of Pharmacy and Prescribing Support for Scotland’s largest NHS Health Board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Norman had responsibility for all aspects of pharmacy service delivery in hospitals, in community pharmacy and within GP surgeries and for safe and effective use of medicines within the Health Board. He led the redesign of pharmacy services which involved the establishment of the world’s largest robotic pharmacy. Norman held Visiting Professor positions within the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences and within the School of Pharmacy at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Norman has taken on responsibility for coordinating and developing LRC outdoor initiatives and partnerships. He is using his experience, leadership skills and knowledge of healthcare and management to help LRC to grow and achieve its aims of raising awareness of tick-borne infection amongst the public and healthcare professionals. He lives in West Calder and is now enjoying global travel once again!

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Pauline Bowie

Ambassador and team member

A schoolteacher for 33 years, Pauline is a curricular leader of technologies with a focus on engineering subjects in the West of Scotland. She has personal experience of Lyme disease undiagnosed for 29 years. You can read more about Pauline’s story here.( will add links to media stories here) As a Patient Ambassador, Pauline is actively involved in promoting and coordinating many outreach activities within LRC. She works with media and with Scottish MSPs to highlight the issues and is currently developing a Lyme disease education programme for schools across Scotland. She actively engages her Young Enterprise Group of senior school students in Lyme disease community outreach. Pauline also participates in our outdoor awareness programme, educating the public at events across the country, and raising awareness of ticks and Lyme disease with those leading scout groups, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and outdoor events. Each year, she coordinates the global ‘Light up for Lyme’ campaign across Scotland, asking public and private organisations to light up their buildings with green light throughout May. This helps focus and raise public awareness during May Lyme Awareness Month.

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Rico Franchi

Ambassador

A singer/songwriter from Glasgow, Scotland, Rico raises awareness and funding for LRC through his talent as a singer and songwriter. Having battled Lyme disease for over ten years now, he says “I have been fortunate enough to use my music as a vehicle to create awareness and raise funds for Lyme charities. Being such a misunderstood illness, means that people rarely receive the support they need and deserve. It’s a very lonely journey, with many friends and family members often forgetting how ill we are on the inside, because we look well on the outside. We’re forced to smile and push through pain, fatigue and other sinister symptoms because there’s no alternative solution. The unpredictability of flare ups leaves us living in constant fear over what might arise next. We need a voice, and I’m happy and honoured to be part of that voice. Let’s raise more awareness and push harder for answers to help a growing community whose questions need answers.” You can find out more about Rico here. https://www.youtube.com/RicoFranchimusic https://www.instagram.com/ricotheunknown https://www.facebook.com/ricotheunknown

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Angus (Gus) Walker

Team Member

Angus has a background in engineering and presently works as a Maintenance Supervisor in the oil and gas industry, with extensive experience in mechanical engineering and project management disciplines. Angus runs our Social Media programme and campaigns. He also helps deliver our outdoor awareness projects. This includes the production of the LRC outdoor signs and liaison with councils and outdoor volunteers such as The Conservationist Volunteers (TCV). He is a keen cyclist and was first involved with the charity in 2021, taking inspiration from a family member affected by tick borne illness, undertaking a huge cycling challenge to mark his 40th birthday – cycling more than 4040km and raising over £4000 for Lyme Resource Centre.

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Dr Anne Cruikshank

GP Advisor

Anne is a general practitioner, based in Oxfordshire, England. She has had a long standing interest in Lyme disease - ever since a close family member was hospitalised with Lyme carditis in 2007. She has experience of managing patients with Lyme disease within both primary care and a consultant-led Lyme disease Clinic. In 2018, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) appointed Anne as the Clinical Champion for Lyme disease, tasked with leading the RCGP Lyme disease Spotlight Project to raise awareness of Lyme disease within primary care. She is a co-author of the RCGP Lyme Disease Toolkit - a user-friendly, open access, guide for health care professionals. patients and the general public. Whilst acknowledging the complexities of diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, Anne recognises that well informed healthcare professionals hold the key to early diagnosis and the prevention of long term complications.

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Lisa Crossley

Team Member

Lisa joined the charity as Executive Officer, supporting the trustees and liaising with team members to help deliver the charity’s priorities. These include developing links with all councils in Scotland, fundraising and communications with media amongst others. Prior to retirement Lisa was the managing director of a group of engineering companies based in the north west and south east of England. Her early career was in international banking in the City of London. She brings financial and administrative experience to our cause and was drawn to joining LRC having witnessed the severe effects of Lyme disease on two close friends.

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Monica Wilde

Team Member

Monica Wilde is a Research Herbalist (M.Sc. Herbal Medicine, University of Central Lancashire) with a special interest in concomitant prescribing of drugs, herbs and nutrients. Recognising the financial hardship that many Lyme patients find themselves in, she has run a low income Lyme clinic since 2015. Monica is helping the charity by documenting the use of herbs alongside prescription and OTC medicines to increase knowledge, assure safety, and develop understanding of best practice. She is also organising CPD training in Lyme protocols and support for herbal medicine practitioners Research has shown that some herbal products are effective against Lyme on a par with antibiotics. As many Lyme patients find that an integrated medicine approach gives them the best support and results, she is committed to working with clinical practitioners across disciplines.

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Liz Murray

Team Member

Liz has a Masters in Business Administration and recent experience in marketing, customer experience and digital communications. She worked in NHS for 15 years as a Physiotherapist and Senior Manager before moving across to the commercial health sector, where she worked for a further 25 years until recently retiring. Liz now helps the charity with strategy, planning and communications strategy as well as some medium-longer term projects. She also has a deep understanding of the challenges of Lyme disease, having been diagnosed and treated with the condition after almost 6 years of symptoms.

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Gordana Avramovic

Team Member

Gordana works as a research manager in infectious diseases at UCD and the Mater Hospital in Dublin and has had experience in managing a charity in London. Gordana organises LRC educational events and grant applications for the charity.

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Trevor Brailey

Team Member

Trevor retired in 2016 as a Senior Engineering Associate within the petrochemical industry. He was appointed as treasurer for the charity, having recently completed seven years as treasurer for a medium-sized non-profit charitable company. Trevor brings his knowledge and experience of policies, practices, and good governance to ensure our finances are well managed.

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Christian Geoghegan

Team Member

Christian currently works as a software and development service specialist, with over 10 years of professional experience in global multinationals. He joined the team in 2022 and is responsible for IT support and website development.

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Paula Denham

Team Member

Paula currently works as a medical administrator in a hospital setting. She monitors and responds to the LRC email enquiries received. Paula can be reached at admin@lymeresourcecentre.com and will pass emails to the appropriate member of the LRC team.

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Margaret Miller

Team Member

Prior to retirement, Margaret worked with NHS Education for Scotland as the Pharmacy Team Manager, alongside Arlene Brailey. She brings wide and varied administrative experience having worked in several Office Manager and Executive Assistant roles including Scottish Government and Ernst & Young. Margaret provides administrative support to LRC in several areas – including building the research publications facility on the website.

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Founder Trustees

The Lyme Resource Centre is grateful for the work and support of those who helped to establish this unique charity in 2019.

Dr Janey Cringean

James Davies

Trustee of LRC from 2019 - July 2021

Trustee of LRC from 2019 - May 2023

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