Tick Boot Camp Podcast
Dr. Tal was featured on the Tick Boot Camp Podcast:

• Coming soon…

Title & Roles

• Principal Scientist, MIT Department of Biological Engineering

• Associate Scientific Director, MIT Center for Gynepathology Research

• Lead Investigator, Tal Research Group

About Dr. Michal “Mikki” Caspi Tal
Michal Caspi Tal, PhD, is a leading Lyme disease researcher and immunoengineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As a Principal Scientist in the Department of Biological Engineering and Associate Scientific Director of the MIT Center for Gynepathology Research, Dr. Tal directs the Tal Research Group, where she studies the immune system’s role in Lyme disease and other infection-associated chronic illnesses.

Her research focuses on developing predictive diagnostics for Lyme disease, improving patient-centered care, and uncovering how immune dysregulation contributes to chronic Lyme disease and other invisible illnesses. She also investigates the important role of sex differences in immune responses, helping to explain why certain patients experience more severe or persistent symptoms.

Education & Training

• PhD, Immunobiology – Yale University (mentored by Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, focused on immune responses to viral infections and the effects of aging)

• Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stanford University, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (mentored by Dr. Irving Weissman, where she later became an Instructor and led the infectious disease team studying Lyme disease immune mechanisms)

Research Focus Areas

• Immune dysregulation and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS)

• Mechanisms of immune clearance and persistence in Borrelia burgdorferi infection

• Development of advanced diagnostics for tick-borne diseases

• Comparative immune studies across infections, including Lyme disease and COVID-19

Awards & Recognition

• NIH NIAID F31 Predoctoral Fellowship

• NIH NIAID F32 Postdoctoral Fellowship

• Emerging Leader Award – Bay Area Lyme Foundation, honoring her contributions to advancing Lyme disease research

The Tal Research Group at MIT
Dr. Tal leads a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of biomedical scientists whose mission is to advance understanding of the immune system in tick-borne diseases and other chronic infections. Their expertise spans:

• Immunology, microbiology, and bioengineering

• Translational medicine and health policy

• Patient experience, environmental health, and disease pathophysiology

Through this work, the Tal Research Group is helping drive the future of Lyme disease diagnostics and treatments, aiming to provide actionable solutions for patients living with chronic illness.