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LymeX

The LymeX Innovation Accelerator (LymeX) is a public-private partnership between HHS and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation to accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

A public-private partnership with the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation



 

Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses present an urgent public health challenge. We need all hands on deck for coordinated public health efforts to address the real threat these diseases pose. Developing new and better ways to address these diseases is crucial—but real advancement cannot occur in a vacuum.

That's why HHS launched the LymeX Innovation Accelerator (LymeX), an innovation partnership with the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. LymeX is modeled after the success and methods of the KidneyX Innovation Accelerator, a partnership between HHS and the American Society of Nephrology that includes kidney-care patients in every step of its innovation process.

Mission

LymeX will accelerate Lyme Innovation progress and strategically advance tick-borne-disease solutions in direct collaboration with Lyme patients, patient advocates, and diverse stakeholders across academia, nonprofits, industry, and government.

Goals

Engage Stakeholders to Facilitate Patient-Centered Innovations

By including patients and stakeholders in every step of identifying, developing, and implementing advancements in Lyme disease care, LymeX fosters innovations that can deliver transformative impact on patients' quality of life. LymeX is exploring how collaborative partnership models can best support stakeholder engagement. For example, the Health+ approach pinpoints challenges from the patient's point of view to identify and map development of new tools and technological solutions.

In close collaboration with stakeholders, LymeX aims to:

  • Build capacity for effective, efficient communication among patients, stakeholders, and HHS
  • Identify common challenges in patient and healthcare provider experiences
  • Hold a roundtable to outline possible improvements and solutions
  • Make plans for quickly developing and testing solution prototypes

Foster Breakthroughs in Education and Awareness

LymeX supports innovative health education and public awareness initiatives that focus on tick-borne disease prevention and help clinicians, patients, and caregivers benefit from the latest scientific findings.

Accelerate Development of Next-Gen Diagnostics

LymeX prize challenges encourage rapid, cross-sector, patient-centered diagnostic innovations. These challenges will drive creators, industries, and academia toward breakthroughs in more accurate Lyme diagnosis, helping make next-gen diagnostics available more quickly.

Blog Posts and Ways to Learn More

For the most up-to-date information, statistics, and guidance on Lyme disease and related illnesses, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Lyme disease website.

These HHS blog posts offer additional information related to the LymeX partnership, a part of the broader Lyme Innovation initiative:

Lyme Innovation

Accelerating innovation in tick-borne disease prevention, diagnostics, and patient outcomes via next-gen technologies and data-driven, interdisciplinary collaborations

Lyme Innovation: Real-World Impact

Lyme Innovation developments that are already making an impact on tick-borne illnesses

Tick-Borne Diseases Working Group

Working Group that reviews federal tick-borne disease efforts and research priorities, including Lyme Innovation, while ensuring interagency coordination

KidneyX

Public-private partnership between HHS and the American Society of Nephrology to accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases
Content created by Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Content last reviewed on September 30, 2020