The U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis have introduced $2 million in Section 2 prizes for the LymeX Diagnostics Prize. Via October 2023, the ten Section 1 winners are taking part in a digital accelerator designed to assist them refine their ideas for detecting energetic Lyme illness infections in folks. Throughout the Section 2 accelerator, the cohort has entry to digital studying, mentorship, biorepository subject material experience, and networking alternatives. The objective of this multiphase LymeX Innovation Accelerator (LymeX) competitors is to nurture the event of diagnostics towards Meals and Drug Administration assessment.

Utilizing a prize competitors mannequin according to the America COMPETES Act, the LymeX Diagnostics Prize incorporates money prizes alongside a variety of non-monetary sources to stimulate the market and produce collectively a various group of consultants. The necessity for brand spanking new testing strategies for Lyme illness is just rising. The 2-tier antibody testing system—initially developed in 1994 for illness surveillance, not as a stand-alone diagnostic check—depends on the presence of antibodies and may solely be used precisely 4 to 6 weeks after sufferers turn into contaminated. Nevertheless, obtainable remedies are simplest when used early within the acute stage of the illness.

“Beneath the Biden-Harris Administration, HHS has made it a precedence to develop People’ entry to well being care—and significantly the correct diagnostics essential for well timed therapy interventions,” stated Assistant Secretary for Well being Admiral Rachel L. Levine, M.D. “Via our LymeX Innovation Accelerator public-private partnership with the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis, we’re incentivizing innovators throughout academia and the personal sector to return collectively to enhance Lyme illness diagnostics.”

Section 2 will award the $2 million prize pool primarily based on the accelerator cohort’s interim and remaining submissions. In June 2023, the ten Section 2 groups have been invited to submit idea papers to be thought of for the interim prize. Based mostly on the judging panel’s evaluation, as much as ten groups could also be chosen to obtain an interim prize of as much as $75,000 every. On the finish of Section 2, as much as 5 groups could also be chosen to obtain an equal share of the remaining prize pool, with no less than $250,000 per winner.

“We’re proud to associate with HHS to offer the sources to advance these diagnostic ideas towards FDA assessment,” stated Alex Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis. “Creating exams for energetic Lyme an infection is a essential first step towards bettering outcomes for this disabling illness.”

In October 2023, the cohort will submit remaining idea papers that element resolution refinement, embody scientific and affected person enter, and suggest a roadmap from lab to market that features FDA assessment. The competitors judging panel—composed of consultants in areas akin to vector-borne illness biology, scientific and expertise translation, affected person expertise and advocacy, and diagnostic science and expertise—will consider eligible submissions in response to official Section 2 analysis standards. Based mostly on the judges’ evaluations, the judging panel will suggest as much as 5 Section 2 winners of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize.

Due to a $10 million pledge to the LymeX Diagnostics Prize from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis, an extra $7 million in LymeX prizes are projected to be obtainable sooner or later. HHS plans to announce extra particulars for the following stage of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize later this 12 months.

As well as, a choice of accelerator sources might be made obtainable to the general public on the competitors web site to help broader innovation in Lyme illness diagnostics and therapy.

About LymeX
The LymeX Diagnostics Prize is sponsored by the LymeX Innovation Accelerator, a partnership between the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis. LymeX is the world’s largest public-private partnership for Lyme illness, fostering collaborative innovation amongst sufferers and advocates, academia, nonprofits, business, and authorities. As a element of a bigger moonshot, LymeX is figuring out, growing, and implementing developments in Lyme illness care. Along with accelerating next-generation diagnostics, LymeX is spearheading improvement of human-centered options and fostering breakthroughs in schooling and consciousness. For extra info, go to lyme-x.org.

In regards to the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers
HHS enhances and protects the well being and well-being of all People. HHS fulfills that mission by offering for efficient well being and human companies and by fostering sound, sustained advances within the sciences underlying medication, public well being, and social companies. For extra info, go to hhs.gov.

In regards to the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis is dedicated to inspiring philanthropy and group service by creating consciousness, providing steerage, and main by instance to indicate the world what giving can do. The Basis’s grants help nonprofit organizations primarily based in the USA that both assist folks in want or clear up complicated issues. The Basis is the biggest personal funder of Lyme and tick-borne illness analysis in the USA with over $75 million disbursed for groundbreaking research in prevention, diagnostics, and therapy in addition to constructing important analysis infrastructure to catalyze innovation. The Basis additionally spearheads grassroots campaigns to encourage others to present. For extra info, go to steveandalex.org.