In this special Tick Boot Camp Podcast episode recorded live at Project Lab Coat during New York Fashion Week (NYFW), we sit down with Colonel Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.).
Col. Malachowski, the first female pilot of the USAF Thunderbirds and a Lyme patient advocate, walked the runway with us at Project Lab Coat and served as the sole patient representative on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that authored the landmark report on Lyme infection-associated chronic illness (Lyme IACI).
She shares her perspective on why this recognition is a historic milestone for the Lyme community.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why the term Lyme IACI (infection-associated chronic illness) matters and how it creates an inclusive umbrella for persistent symptoms after Lyme infection.
- How the National Academies report represents the first time the U.S. government has officially recognized Lyme IACI.
- What it was like for Col. Malachowski to serve as the sole patient representative on the committee alongside scientists and clinicians.
- Why the report calls for running treatment trials in parallel with biomarker discovery so patients are not left waiting.
- How collaboration with long COVID and ME/CFS communities can accelerate solutions and strengthen advocacy.
- The role of AI and machine learning in analyzing patient data, biobanks, and surveys to identify new diagnostics and repurposed therapies.
- Why visibility at NYFW Project Lab Coat signals growing mainstream recognition of Lyme disease.
About Col. Nicole Malachowski
Col. Malachowski is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, the first woman selected to fly with the USAF Thunderbirds, and a National Women’s Hall of Fame inductee. After contracting a tick-borne illness and being medically retired, she became a nationally recognized speaker and advocate for Lyme patients. She served as the sole patient voice on the National Academies committee that authored the landmark report on Lyme IACI, commissioned with support from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation.
About Project Lab Coat at New York Fashion Week
Project Lab Coat was a groundbreaking event held on September 13, 2025, during New York Fashion Week (NYFW). The show brought together prominent celebrities, researchers, doctors, and advocates who were invited to walk the runway to spotlight Lyme disease and raise funds for Lyme disease research.
For the first time, the global visibility of NYFW was used to highlight one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the world. Tick Boot Camp co-founders Matt Sabatello and Rich Johannesen, together with Dr. Tal, walked the runway at Project Lab Coat, joining leaders from medicine, science, entertainment, and advocacy. Project Lab Coat demonstrated the power of mainstream platforms to bring awareness, credibility, and resources to the fight against Lyme disease.
Key Takeaways
- Federal recognition matters – Lyme IACI in a National Academies report marks a turning point in credibility and urgency.
- Patients at the center – clinical trials must include patients from design through reporting.
- Collaboration is key – linking Lyme, long COVID, ME/CFS, and other infection-associated conditions strengthens progress.
- Do both now – pursue biomarkers and cures while also running treatment studies to help patients immediately.
- Technology accelerates hope – AI and machine learning can unlock insights from existing patient data.
