The U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis have introduced $2 million in Part 2 prizes for the . Via October 2023, the are taking part in a digital accelerator designed to assist them refine their ideas for detecting energetic Lyme illness infections in folks. In the course of the Part 2 accelerator, the cohort has entry to digital studying, mentorship, biorepository subject material experience, and networking alternatives. The purpose of this multiphase LymeX Innovation Accelerator (LymeX) competitors is to nurture the event of diagnostics towards Meals and Drug Administration overview.
Utilizing a prize competitors mannequin in step with the America COMPETES Act, the LymeX Diagnostics Prize incorporates money prizes alongside a spread of non-monetary sources to stimulate the market and convey collectively a various group of consultants. The necessity for brand spanking new testing strategies for Lyme illness is barely 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 might solely be used precisely 4 to 6 weeks after sufferers turn out to be contaminated. Nonetheless, accessible remedies are best when used early within the acute stage of the illness.
“Beneath the Biden-Harris Administration, HHS has made it a precedence to broaden People’ entry to well being care—and notably the correct diagnostics essential for well timed remedy 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 non-public sector to come back collectively to enhance Lyme illness diagnostics.”
Part 2 will award the $2 million prize pool based mostly on the accelerator cohort’s interim and closing submissions. In June 2023, the ten Part 2 groups had 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 Part 2, as much as 5 groups could also be chosen to obtain an equal share of the remaining prize pool, with a minimum of $250,000 per winner.
“We’re proud to companion with HHS to supply the sources to advance these diagnostic ideas towards FDA overview,” stated Alex Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis. “Creating exams for energetic Lyme an infection is a vital first step towards enhancing outcomes for this disabling illness.”
In October 2023, the cohort will submit closing idea papers that element answer refinement, embrace medical and affected person enter, and suggest a roadmap from lab to market that features FDA overview. The —composed of consultants in areas reminiscent of vector-borne illness biology, medical and expertise translation, affected person expertise and advocacy, and diagnostic science and expertise—will consider eligible submissions in line with . Based mostly on the judges’ evaluations, the judging panel will suggest as much as 5 Part 2 winners of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize.
Because of 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 accessible sooner or later. HHS plans to announce extra particulars for the subsequent stage of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize later this 12 months.
As well as, a number of accelerator sources can be made accessible to the general public on the competitors web site to help broader innovation in Lyme illness diagnostics and remedy.
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, creating, 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 .
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 .
In regards to the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis is dedicated to inspiring philanthropy and neighborhood service by creating consciousness, providing steerage, and main by instance to point out the world what giving can do. The Basis’s grants help nonprofit organizations based mostly in the USA that both assist folks in want or remedy advanced issues. The Basis is the most important non-public funder of Lyme and tick-borne illness analysis in the USA with over $75 million disbursed for groundbreaking research in prevention, diagnostics, and remedy 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 .