DxLab wins AFWERX’s $1.25 million contract to enhance infectious disease diagnostics for the Department of the Air Force
Under the contract, DxLab will adapt its DxHub platform to enable rapid, clinically actionable testing of key infectious diseases at the point-of-care for the U.S. Air Force
Somerville, MA – DxLab Inc. announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25 million focused on enhancing its portable and ruggedized molecular diagnostic platform, the DxHub, for point-of-care detection of major respiratory infections to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on June 7, 2024, DxLab will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
“It’s an honor to be selected by AFWERX and have the opportunity to work directly with the US Air Force,” said Ho-Jun Suk, co-founder and CEO of DxLab. “We are excited to leverage our technology to support the mission-critical needs of the Air Force related to infectious disease diagnostics at the point-of-care.”
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
About DxLab Inc.
DxLab is a medical device company dedicated to providing rapid, accurate, and affordable pathogen detection everywhere. The company has developed a unique molecular diagnostic system, called the DxHub, which utilizes its patent-pending nucleic acid detection technology to enable on-demand high-throughput pathogen testing anywhere, producing lab-quality results in as little as 10 minutes. With an initial focus on setting the new standard for infectious disease diagnostics, DxLab has developed a rapid and accurate point-of-care COVID-19 test that has received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA, and the company is actively expanding its product portfolio to include tests for other major infectious diseases. For more information, visit dxlab.bio or email support@dxlab.bio.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,100 new contracts worth more than $4 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com.
Company Press Contact:
Ho-Jun Suk
Chief Executive Officer
support@dxlab.bio