Dutchess County residents in 24 neighborhoods will soon be recruited for a large Lyme disease study, after the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies won a $5 million grant for a scientific study of reducing tick populations. The study, in partnership with Bard College, is being funded by The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, led by president Alex Cohen. "I have experienced the debilitating side effects of Lyme first-hand, and we are proud to support organizations like the Cary Institute that are investing in research on prevention strategies that will stop this awful disease from infecting more people," he said. More than 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease annually in the United States, and Dutchess County is near the epicenter of the disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that current pesticide applications in yards does not lower Lyme disease risk. Instead, this study will target ticks and mice at the neighborhood level. For more information about the study see www.tickproject.org.