Federal Grant Award Summary

Parabon Nanolabs, Inc. received a $295,294 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) effective June 12, 2026, with completion targeted for August 31, 2027. The award funds development of METADX, a software solution that leverages whole metagenomic sequencing (WMS), bioinformatics, and machine learning to diagnose invasive fungal infections and predict antifungal resistance profiles within 24 hours or less. The solution addresses critical gaps in current diagnostic methods by simultaneously identifying pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and viruses in a single test, enabling rapid and targeted treatment decisions while reducing unnecessary broad-spectrum antifungal therapy.

The METADX platform capitalizes on advancements in next-generation sequencing technologies, particularly long-read Nanopore sequencing, to provide comprehensive pathogen identification without requiring separate tests for individual organisms. This approach directly addresses the clinical challenge of distinguishing fungal infections from bacterial infections, which currently results in delayed diagnoses and increased mortality risk. The resulting software deliverable will improve patient outcomes while helping to mitigate the growing threat of antifungal resistance by enabling precise, organism-specific treatment strategies. Work will be conducted at Parabon Nanolabs' Reston, Virginia facility.