The Tick App

Using a smartphone app, we are trying to determine where and how often people become exposed to ticks on Staten Island, while users can access tick ID services and more. The Tick App is a joint effort between partners at the NE-VBD (Diuk-Wasser lab at Columbia University) and the MW-VBD (University of Wisconsin-Madison).

Project lead: Pilar Fernandez, PhD, Researcher

Tick App functionalities

The main goal of this project is to study human behavior, tick exposure and the risk of Lyme disease using a citizen science approach via a smartphone application, The Tick App. The Tick App uses a combination of surveys and geolocation technology to uncover how people's day-to-day activities play a role in their risk for tick-borne diseases. This information can help to develop disease control programs that allow people to enjoy their outdoor activities safely while reducing disease risk.