Federal Grant Award Summary

Helixbind, Inc. received a $1,029,859 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded July 16, 2026, with completion expected June 30, 2029. The award supports development of an automated, sample-to-answer molecular diagnostic system for rapid characterization of bloodstream infections directly from whole blood. The platform leverages proprietary technologies in sample preparation and detection to identify viable pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes within approximately four hours—significantly faster than traditional blood culture methods that require days for results. The assay menu encompasses organisms responsible for 98 percent of bloodstream infections and demonstrates single colony-forming unit per milliliter sensitivity without requiring centrifugation or filtration preprocessing.

Under this funding, Helixbind will advance the platform to a hospital-ready alpha version by incorporating enhanced capabilities into a breadboard, bench-top instrument that operates with disposable plastic consumables. The diagnostic system addresses a critical clinical need: septicemia contributes to over 270,000 annual U.S. deaths, and rapid, accurate pathogen identification is essential for timely administration of appropriate antimicrobial treatment to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospitalization duration. This development effort supports the commercialization pathway for an innovative diagnostic tool that overcomes limitations of culture-dependent methods, particularly in patients already receiving antimicrobials.