Very well. Thank you for the question.
Obviously, when comparing ourselves with the U.S., right off the bat, we have to multiply any investments by a factor of 10. Consequently, where we have spent $7 million, they have spent at least $70 million. In addition, the U.S. spends twice as much on research per capita than Canada does. Basically, then, after multiplying the amount by 10 and then 2, we are talking about 20 times what we invest in Canada.
We are discussing Lyme disease, but you should know that Lyme is the name of a small town in Connecticut. The disease has been rampant in the U.S. for much longer. A body of research has been built over time. And because of temperature changes, the carrier, meaning the tick, migrated north. So now the disease is endemic in Canada. Right now, the U.S. contributes more per capita to Lyme disease research than Canada does.
As far as international efforts go, there are many, and that applies to a number of areas including vaccines, HIV, Hepatitis C and antibiotic resistance. But, apart from the interaction between the researchers themselves, the level of collaboration between CIHR and the U.S. government is rather low, in terms of Lyme disease efforts.