The U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies 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 collaborating in a digital accelerator designed to assist them refine their ideas for detecting energetic Lyme illness infections in individuals. Through 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 evaluation.
Utilizing a prize competitors mannequin per 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 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 take a look at—depends on the presence of antibodies and might solely be used precisely 4 to 6 weeks after sufferers develop into contaminated. Nevertheless, accessible therapies are only when used early within the acute stage of the illness.
“Beneath the Biden-Harris Administration, HHS has made it a precedence to develop Individuals’ entry to well being care—and notably the correct diagnostics essential for well timed therapy interventions,” mentioned 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 come back collectively to enhance Lyme illness diagnostics.”
Section 2 will award the $2 million prize pool primarily based on the accelerator cohort’s interim and closing submissions. In June 2023, the ten Section 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 Section 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 associate with HHS to offer the sources to advance these diagnostic ideas towards FDA evaluation,” mentioned Alex Cohen, President of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis. “Creating exams for energetic Lyme an infection is a crucial first step towards enhancing outcomes for this disabling illness.”
In October 2023, the cohort will submit closing idea papers that element answer refinement, embrace scientific and affected person enter, and suggest a roadmap from lab to market that features FDA evaluation. 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 based on official Section 2 analysis standards. Primarily based on the judges’ evaluations, the judging panel will advocate as much as 5 Section 2 winners of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize.
Because of a $10 million pledge to the LymeX Diagnostics Prize from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis, a further $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 yr.
As well as, a choice of accelerator sources will likely be made accessible 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 Companies 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 part 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 growth of human-centered options and fostering breakthroughs in training and consciousness. For extra info, go to lyme-x.org.
In regards to the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies
HHS enhances and protects the well being and well-being of all Individuals. 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 steering, and main by instance to indicate the world what giving can do. The Basis’s grants help nonprofit organizations primarily based in the US that both assist individuals in want or resolve complicated issues. The Basis is the most important personal funder of Lyme and tick-borne illness analysis in the US 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.
