As we mark Lyme Illness Consciousness Month this Could, HHS is proud to have fun the 10 groups collaborating in Section 2 of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize. The last word purpose of HHS and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis’s LymeX Innovation Accelerator (LymeX) competitors is to nurture the event of diagnostics towards Meals and Drug Administration overview.

The present two-tier antibody testing system—initially developed in 1994 for illness surveillance, not as a stand-alone diagnostic take a look at—depends on the presence of antibodies and might solely be used precisely 4 to 6 weeks after the affected person turns into contaminated.

Accelerating innovation by money prizes and skilled sources

By means of September 2023, ten groups are collaborating within the Section 2 digital accelerator, which presents entry to digital studying, mentorship, biorepository subject material experience, and networking alternatives. With prior work in areas starting from sepsis to genetic sequencing and glycomics, the accelerator cohort is making use of a broad vary of experience to their proposed next-generation diagnostics.

Through the use of a prize competitors mannequin, the LymeX Diagnostics Prize presents money prizes alongside a spread of non-monetary sources. The competitors is designed to stimulate the marketplace for Lyme illness diagnostics by serving to entrants overcome diagnostic growth obstacles with prize funds and technical help—whereas additionally fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Bettering testing accessibility is essential to enhancing affected person outcomes, and groups are already starting to think about the problem with the assistance of medical research and machine design sources. Over the summer time, the cohort will take part in roundtable discussions with sufferers and clinicians as they refine their ideas.

The LymeX Diagnostics Prize is setting a brand new bar for innovation in illness diagnostics. If exams are efficiently validated, the cohort’s work might assist enhance Lyme illness remedy total—in addition to exams for different infectious illnesses.

Trying forward: Skilled judging panel to convene in October 2023

Following the accelerator, the cohort will submit idea papers that element resolution refinement, medical and affected person enter, and a roadmap from lab to market.

The competitors judging panel—composed of consultants throughout biology, medical and know-how translation, affected person expertise and advocacy, diagnostic science and know-how, exponential innovation, and ethics—will consider eligible submissions based on official Section 2 analysis standards. Primarily based on the judges’ evaluations, they are going to advocate as much as 5 Section 2 winners of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize.

The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis has made a beneficiant $10 million pledge to the LymeX Diagnostics Prize. HHS and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis awarded $1 million in Section 1 of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize, with $9 million in further LymeX prizes projected to be accessible in future phases, together with Section 2. A choice of accelerator sources will probably be made accessible to the general public on the competitors web site to assist broader innovation in Lyme illness diagnostics and remedy.

To obtain all Section 2 updates, subscribe to the LymeX Diagnostics Prize e-newsletter and observe @Lyme_X on Twitter.