VecTech will develop tick identification technology for US public health with support of $295K phase I SBIR from the NIH
August 30, 2021, Baltimore, MD
Vectech, a startup developing data and analytics tools for disease-carrying organisms, such as mosquitoes and ticks, announced today it has been awarded a $295k Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award will fund research and development of an optics and computer vision system for automated identification of the top nine tick vectors in the US. The research complements Vectech’s innovative mosquito identification system, currently undergoing beta testing in mosquito control organizations throughout the US.
“The ability to quickly tell whether a tick is of a species capable of transmitting disease is critical to informing whether individuals need to seek treatment, and whether local government agencies need to take action to protect public health,” said Tristan Ford, CEO of Vectech..
The incidence of tick-borne diseases has been rising in the US over the past several years, with an estimated 500,000 cases of Lyme disease each year. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes nine tick species of highest public health importance, which are the focus of the funded research.
“We’re quite excited to begin efforts on improving tick identification capabilities in the US,” said Adam Goodwin, Chief Technology Officer of Vectech. “As we start learning the minutiae of tick identification to inform our optics development, it’s exciting to see the similarities and differences with mosquito identification. Differences are exciting, because it means we have new innovations ahead!”
About Vectech:
Vectech, LLC is a Baltimore-MD based technology company that specializes in optics and computer vision approaches to detecting and monitoring insects. The technology can be implemented in a variety of tools, from public health operations, to citizen science, and entomological research. The company aims to generate data that will promote effective allocation of control resources and prevent vector borne diseases. Learn more: https://www.vectech.io/
Media Contact:
Tristan Ford
[email protected]