A new test for quickly diagnosing Lyme disease
Official title: A peptide-based point-of-care vertical flow assay for the rapid diagnosis of Lyme disease
Funded at Biopeptides, INC. · NIH-10653862 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a quick and easy test for Lyme disease that uses special technology to help doctors find the bacteria that causes it, making it faster and more accurate to diagnose, especially in the early stages when treatment is most effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Biopeptides, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ridgefield, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 24, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $971,240 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI150060-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10653862 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have been exposed to ticks and are showing early symptoms of Lyme disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already been diagnosed with Lyme disease and are undergoing treatment may not benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic test for Lyme disease using innovative peptide-based technology. The approach aims to improve the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, by utilizing unique peptides that are highly specific to the pathogen. This new assay is designed to be portable and cost-effective, allowing for quicker diagnosis and better patient outcomes, especially in the early stages of the disease. By addressing the limitations of current serological tests, this research seeks to enhance the accuracy and speed of Lyme disease diagnosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses of Lyme disease, improving treatment outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been challenges in developing effective Lyme disease diagnostics, the innovative use of peptide-based assays shows promise and builds on previous research efforts.
Where this research is happening
-
Biopeptides, INC.
Ridgefield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arnaboldi, Paul Michael — Biopeptides, INC.
- Study coordinator: Arnaboldi, Paul Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding why some people have ongoing symptoms after Lyme disease
A long-term study follows people diagnosed with acute Lyme disease to see who develops persistent symptoms and why, with care from a team of Lyme experts.
-
CSF Protein Map in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease
A short study to map proteins in spinal fluid of people who had Lyme disease and still feel sick after standard treatment, to understand what’s going on.
-
Lyme disease vaccine research aimed at preventing infection
Researchers are developing a Lyme disease vaccine by studying how the immune system responds to Borrelia burgdorferi and testing vaccine approaches to prevent illness.
-
Lyme disease brain health: tracking brain signals and blood clues after treatment
This study follows people with early Lyme disease and compares them to healthy volunteers to see how the brain and blood markers change over a year after starting antibiotics.
-
Lyme disease symptoms lingering after treatment may be driven by special bacterial fragments
A human-friendly look at a study exploring why some Lyme patients keep symptoms after antibiotics and whether tiny fragments from the bacteria are to blame.
-
Understanding Lyme disease immune signals to predict recovery after antibiotics
A research project at MIT aims to find immune biomarkers that tell which Lyme patients will recover after standard antibiotics and who might have lasting symptoms.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.