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 LymeX Diagnostics Prize. Via October 2023, the ten Part 1 winners are collaborating in a digital accelerator designed to assist them refine their ideas for detecting energetic Lyme illness infections in individuals. Throughout the Part 2 accelerator, the cohort has entry to digital studying, mentorship, biorepository material experience, and networking alternatives. The aim 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 assets 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 take a look at—depends on the presence of antibodies and may solely be used precisely 4 to 6 weeks after sufferers turn into contaminated. Nevertheless, accessible therapies 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 notably 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 non-public sector to return collectively to enhance Lyme illness diagnostics.”
Part 2 will award the $2 million prize pool based mostly on the accelerator cohort’s interim and ultimate submissions. In June 2023, the ten Part 2 groups have been invited to submit idea papers to be thought-about for the interim prize. Primarily based 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 no less than $250,000 per winner.
“We’re proud to associate with HHS to offer the assets to advance these diagnostic ideas towards FDA overview,” stated Alex Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis. “Creating assessments for energetic Lyme an infection is a crucial first step towards enhancing outcomes for this disabling illness.”
In October 2023, the cohort will submit ultimate idea papers that element resolution refinement, embrace scientific and affected person enter, and suggest a roadmap from lab to market that features FDA overview. The competitors judging panel—composed of consultants in areas reminiscent of vector-borne illness biology, scientific and expertise translation, affected person expertise and advocacy, and diagnostic science and expertise—will consider eligible submissions in line with official Part 2 analysis standards. Primarily based on the judges’ evaluations, the judging panel will suggest as much as 5 Part 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 accessible sooner or later. HHS plans to announce further particulars for the following stage of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize later this yr.
As well as, a choice of accelerator assets will probably be made accessible to the general public on the competitors web site to assist 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, 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 training and consciousness. For extra data, 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 data, go to hhs.gov.
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 assist nonprofit organizations based mostly in america that both assist individuals in want or resolve complicated issues. The Basis is the biggest non-public funder of Lyme and tick-borne illness analysis in america 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 offer. For extra data, go to steveandalex.org.
