Why Are Vector-Borne Infections Still So Difficult to Diagnose?

In this episode of Diagnosing Dx, David Filby is joined by Nicole Bell, CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics.

Nicole’s route into vector-borne disease diagnostics is deeply personal. After her husband was initially diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, she continued searching for answers and later discovered he had Lyme disease alongside Babesia and Bartonella infections.

That experience led Nicole to Galaxy Diagnostics, where the company is working to improve direct detection of vector-borne infections using approaches including urine antigen testing and high-sensitivity PCR.

Nicole discusses why these infections are so difficult to diagnose, how outdated and antibody-based testing can leave patients without clear answers, and Galaxy’s plans to take its Lyme urine antigen test through clinical studies towards FDA submission.

Key takeaways:
🔹 Why Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia can be particularly difficult to detect
🔹 The limitations of relying on antibody testing for active infection
🔹 Why vector-borne disease exposure extends far beyond obvious tick bites
🔹 How Galaxy Diagnostics is approaching direct pathogen detection
🔹 The company’s path towards FDA approval, reimbursement and broader adoption

Chapters:
00:57 Introduction and Nicole Bell’s background
02:43 The personal story behind Nicole’s move into vector-borne diagnostics
08:17 Why vector-borne infections are so difficult to diagnose
13:28 Galaxy Diagnostics and its direct detection approach
17:22 How widespread is the vector-borne disease problem?
22:05 Commercialisation, clinical studies and the path to FDA approval
27:13 Raising a Series A in a difficult diagnostics market
31:31 Upcoming milestones and the future of diagnostics

Guest: Nicole Bell
CEO, Galaxy Diagnostics
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledaniellebell/

Learn more about Galaxy Diagnostics: https://www.galaxydx.com/

Host: David Filby
Founder and CEO of Elevra Consulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidfilby/

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