Design-Zyme LLC Awarded $3M SBIR Contract from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to Develop Novel Lyme Disease Vaccine

September 20, 2024 – Lawrence, KS – Design-Zyme LLC is excited to announce that it has been awarded a $3 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. This funding will support the development of a groundbreaking Lyme disease vaccine utilizing hyaluronic acid as a novel carbohydrate adjuvant, a safe and innovative approach to bolstering immune responses. The vaccine will target multiple strains of the pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, the primary bacterium responsible for Lyme disease, which is spread to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks.

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The award was granted in collaboration with leading experts in Lyme disease research, including Prof. Scott Hefty of the University of Kansas and Prof. Kathryn Reif of Auburn University. Together, the team will harness their combined expertise in infectious diseases, immunology, and vaccine development to address the increasing public health threat posed by Lyme disease, which is rapidly expanding due to climate change and shifting tick populations.