A quick test for Babesia and 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-11127611 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a fast, easy-to-use test to find Babesia parasites and Lyme disease antibodies directly from a patient's sample.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $962,204 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI184034-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11127611 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant to individuals who may have been exposed to tick bites, especially those with weakened immune systems, without a spleen, over 50 years old, or young children, as well as transfusion recipients.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already received a confirmed diagnosis and treatment for Babesiosis or Lyme disease may not directly benefit from this diagnostic development.
What this research studies
Babesia is a parasite spread by the same ticks that carry Lyme disease, and it can cause serious illness, especially in those with weakened immune systems or without a spleen. Currently, it's hard to diagnose Babesia, and it often occurs alongside Lyme disease, making treatment more complicated since different medications are needed for each. This new test aims to quickly identify both Babesia infection and past exposure to Lyme disease, even in young children or older adults who are at higher risk for severe illness. By getting results quickly, doctors can start the right treatments sooner, which is especially important for preventing severe outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could lead to faster and more accurate diagnosis of Babesiosis and Lyme disease, allowing for earlier and more effective treatment.
How similar studies have gone: While existing tests for these diseases are available, this project aims to develop a novel, rapid, point-of-care test that could offer significant advantages in speed and ease of use.
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.
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Understanding why some people have ongoing symptoms after Lyme disease
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CSF Protein Map in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease
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Lyme disease vaccine research aimed at preventing infection
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-
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.
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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.