A new test to quickly detect Babesia microti and diagnose Lyme disease.
Official title: A point of care vertical flow assay for the direct detection of Babesia microti and the serodiagnosis of Lyme disease.
Funded at Biopeptides, INC. · NIH-10918786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a quick and easy test that uses a small blood sample to help doctors accurately detect the Babesia microti parasite and Lyme disease, making it especially helpful for people who are at higher risk for these tick-borne illnesses.
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 | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $971,664 |
| NIH project number | 1R44AI184034-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10918786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have been exposed to ticks and are experiencing symptoms related to babesiosis or Lyme disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already been diagnosed and treated for Babesia microti or Lyme disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a point-of-care vertical flow assay that can directly detect the Babesia microti parasite and diagnose Lyme disease. The approach aims to provide rapid and accurate testing for these tick-borne diseases, which can often be misdiagnosed or go undetected. By utilizing a simple blood sample, the assay seeks to improve patient outcomes through timely diagnosis and treatment. The research will explore the effectiveness of this assay in various patient populations, particularly those at higher risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses of Babesia microti infections and Lyme disease, improving treatment outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing rapid diagnostic tests for tick-borne diseases, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Biopeptides, INC.
Ridgefield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dattwyler, Raymond James — Biopeptides, INC.
- Study coordinator: Dattwyler, Raymond James
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.