On June 16, 2022, the LymeX team provided an in-depth overview of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize and discussed the prize competition’s goal to accelerate the development of Lyme disease diagnostics.
Following the presentation, the team answered questions from attendees — see a summary of questions and answers.
Bridging the gap between promising diagnostic concepts and sensitive, specific solutions
The multiphase prize competition seeks to accelerate solutions that will accurately diagnose an active infection of Lyme disease and will be submitted to the FDA for review and clearance. The first phase of the competition calls on all eligible entrants — including scientific, technical, and clinical experts — to submit detailed concepts and plans for development.
“HHS and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation launched the LymeX Innovation Accelerator partnership in 2020, building on over five years of community-led momentum and community-led efforts with Lyme innovation. With this $25 million public-private partnership, LymeX is the largest effort of its kind in the world. The very first steps are listening and learning from all of you, recognizing the wisdom of the crowd, and the power of community from the years of Lyme innovation momentum.”
— Kristen Honey, Ph.D., PMP, Chief Data Scientist, Executive Director of InnovationX, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
“Better diagnostics yield better information, which yields better decisions and responses. The last couple of years have certainly reinforced the importance of diagnostics in managing threats to human health, and we believe that the same speed and effectiveness of diagnostic innovation must be applied to Lyme disease.”
— Bennett Nemser, Ph.D., Senior Program Officer, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation
Enter the LymeX Diagnostics Prize by August 8
The first phase of the competition calls on all eligible entrants — including scientific, technical, and clinical experts — to submit detailed concepts and plans for development by 4:59 p.m. ET on August 8, 2022. Each entrant will submit a concept paper that describes their proposed solution, how it will diagnose an active infection of Lyme disease, benefits to patients and clinicians, and a scientifically rigorous rationale for success.
Submissions should include an ambitious but achievable roadmap for prototyping, iterating, testing/validating, and evaluating the proposed test(s). Entrants should also indicate their anticipated pathway toward eventual FDA review and clearance. Up to 10 Phase 1 winners will receive an equal share of the $1 million Phase 1 prize pool and be exclusively invited to participate in a planned Phase 2.
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