Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, welcomed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement of the 16 winners of the LymeX Visible Voices Prize, including YMD from Lakewood Township.

                Smith noted that one of the winners, YMD—based in his congressional district in Lakewood, NJ—created a card that allows patients to organize their symptom histories, enabling them to better communicate their experiences to their clinicians.

                “I want to extend my congratulations and thanks to all the winners of the LymeX Visible Voices Prize for their outstanding submissions—including and especially NJ-04’s very own, YMD,” said Smith. “The initiatives launched by this effort will help public to identify and prevent tick bites, as well as empower physicians to better treat patients with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.”

                The Lyme X Visible Voices Prize—a competition sponsored by the LymeX Innovation Accelerator, a public private partnership between HHS and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation—challenged participants to develop creative ways to improve understanding and visibility of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.

                The winning submissions—which include educational resources for care providers, as well as interactive educational platforms for the general public—will each receive a share of the $250,000 total prize amount. For their impressive invention, YMD received an “Impact Award,” valued at $10,000.

                “The LymeX Innovation Accelerator has been a key source of innovation in our fight against Lyme disease. By engaging a variety of private and public sector stakeholders to advance diagnostics and treatments, we get closer to our ultimate goal of finding a lasting cure for Lyme disease,” noted Smith, who has previously secured millions of dollars in federal funding for the continuation of the program.

                “It is time for Congress to follow Secretary Kennedy’s example and codify the LymeX program, ensuring sustained funding for future breakthroughs,” he continued.

                Smith is the author of the LymeX Authorization Act (HR 7482), which would codify and authorize $5 million towards the LymeX Innovation Accelerator. Since its establishment in 2018, LymeX has played a critical role in advancing federal research for patient-centered Lyme treatments and diagnostics.

                In January of last year, LymeX completed its third phase, which saw six teams plan and present their clinical performance studies and publicize their diagnostic tests. A total of five winning teams received a share of the total Phase 3 award of $2.1 million.

                In March, LymeX commenced its fourth phase, wherein teams will submit summary papers on their study results and commercialization plans. Phase 4 winners can expect to receive a share of the corresponding $3 million dedicated to this stage.

                In December of 2025, Smith attended and served as a key panelist at the HHS’ Lyme Disease Roundtable, where Secretary Kennedy announced the $10 million renewal of the LymeX Innovation Accelerator.

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