Dr. Steven Phillips, Sam Sofio, Olivia Goodreau, Dr. Linden Hu, Rep. Morgan Griffith, Dr. Mehmet Oz, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Ken Callahan, Rep. Chris Smith, Bennett Nemser, Rachel Markey and Duvi Honig at the HHS Lyme Disease Roundtable in Washington, D.C. Photo: C-SPAN.
LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Lakewood-based YMD won a $10,000 federal award for a tool designed to help Lyme disease patients organize their symptom histories and communicate with clinicians, part of a national effort to improve diagnostic resources.
YMD was one of ten Impact Award recipients in the LymeX Visible Voices Prize, according to Rep. Chris Smith’s November 2 announcement. Its card is designed to help patients communicate their experiences to clinicians.
Life for Lyme, a division of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday that its founder and chief executive, Duvi Honig, had shared the federal opportunities with the Lakewood community and encouraged local innovators to participate after joining a government evaluation panel. The group linked YMD’s entry to that outreach.
The prize is part of the LymeX Innovation Accelerator, a federal initiative that includes a $10 million public-private partnership for diagnostic development. Honig attended a December 2025 HHS roundtable on Lyme disease, where the partnership was renewed.
Federal award program
HHS announced 16 Visible Voices winners on October 30, awarding $250,000 for educational resources on Lyme and tickborne disease diagnosis. YMD’s $10,000 award was among the prizes announced.
Smith, founder and co-chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, welcomed the winners Monday, offering his “congratulations and thanks,” including to “NJ-04’s very own, YMD.” He called the LymeX Innovation Accelerator “a key source of innovation in our fight against Lyme disease.”
“If this much can be accomplished with $10,000, imagine what we could achieve with greater investment, resources, and collaboration,” Honig said in Life for Lyme’s announcement.
HHS estimates that 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. Its LymeX program seeks to improve diagnostics and patient-centered care through public-private collaboration.
Federal initiatives
Life for Lyme said it initiated the December 15, 2025 Lyme Disease Roundtable in Washington. HHS said it convened the event, moderated by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to bring together patients, clinicians and researchers to discuss diagnostics and care. Honig participated and presented patient concerns to federal officials.
Participants also included Dr. Mehmet Oz, Smith, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Morgan Griffith and representatives of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. HHS announced the renewal of its $10 million LymeX Innovation Accelerator partnership with the foundation at the event.
Life for Lyme said Esther, whom it identifies as its founder, sat in the front row beside seats reserved for HHS staff. Honig said her leadership of the organization received recognition at the gathering.
Honig serves on the evaluation panel for the TOPx HHS Tech Sprint for AI and Invisible Illness, an effort involving HHS, NIH and the Federal Chief Data Officers Council. The NIH challenge page describes the use of open data and artificial intelligence to address Lyme disease, other invisible illnesses and the cost of illness.
That panel role is separate from the Visible Voices competition in which YMD received its award. Life for Lyme said Honig announced his appointment to the Lakewood community, shared the federal opportunities and urged local innovators to enter.
The group also cited the May 29, 2026 HHS Lyme disease event in Concord, New Hampshire. It said Dr. Kristen Honey named Honig alongside lawmakers and other advocates, referring to the December roundtable and saying, “this movement did not start in government.”
C-SPAN’s recording of the December roundtable includes Honig’s remarks on behalf of Life for Lyme.
Life for Lyme describes itself as a national initiative connecting patients, families, physicians, researchers, government leaders and innovators to address Lyme disease and complex chronic illness. The group says Esther leads its team, which has helped, guided and directed more than 30,000 people. Its work includes patient education, doctor referrals, support networks, assistance finding treatment grants, caseworkers, policy advocacy and support for research into diagnostics and treatments.
JBizNews Desk | Lakewood, New Jersey
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