Ultra-sensitive blood test to spot active Lyme disease infections
Official title: Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) program support for: Ultra-sensitive, direct-from-blood, molecular detection of Borrelia infections.
Funded at Helixbind, INC. · NIH-11326212 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new blood test called RaPID/LD aims to detect active Borrelia infections directly from blood, helping people with suspected Lyme disease get an early and accurate diagnosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Helixbind, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boxborough, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 2, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 5SB1AI183963-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326212 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with signs or symptoms suggestive of early Lyme disease or those with suspected infection who need confirmatory testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with established, treated Lyme disease or non-Lyme illnesses are unlikely to benefit from this diagnostic test.
What this research studies
Lyme disease is common in the US and early treatment usually works well, but delays can lead to serious complications. This project centers on an automated, ultra-sensitive test that looks for Borrelia directly in whole blood, instead of relying on antibodies. If successful, the test would distinguish active infection from past exposure and improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis. The research is led by HelixBind and focuses on making the test robust across Borrelia species and usable in clinical settings. The effort will involve analytical verification studies and a pathway toward commercialization to benefit patients who present with non-specific symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more accurate diagnoses and timely treatment for Lyme disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous diagnostics for Lyme disease struggle with early detection; this approach claims substantially higher sensitivity for active infection.
Where this research is happening
-
Helixbind, INC.
Boxborough, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singer, Alon — Helixbind, INC.
- Study coordinator: Singer, Alon
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.