AUSTIN, TX / ACCESS Newswire / September 24, 2026 / BetterWay blood testing by Babson Diagnostics, a science-first healthcare technology company transforming diagnostic blood testing, today announced a three-year research collaboration agreement with The University of Texas at Austin to study brain health biomarkers in capillary blood.
The research program combines BetterWay technologies for capillary sample collection, preparation, and analysis with leading research in neurology. Esther Melamed, M.D.,Ph.D., a board-certified neurologist and associate professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Neurology, will lead the research on behalf of the University of Texas at Austin.
The collaboration will measure brain health biomarkers in patient populations with Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and long COVID, along with asymptomatic participants. Biomarkers including phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) will be analyzed using fingertip capillary blood samples collected with BetterWay technology. The research objective is to enable accurate measurement of neurological biomarkers using a more patient-friendly sample collection for populations who may experience cognitive impairment, needle anxiety, mobility limitations, or difficult venous access.
As part of the research program, Babson Diagnostics has deployed a capillary blood collection site at Dell Medical School, which will serve as one of the program's study subject enrollment locations. The team also plans to enroll participants at the Babson Diagnostics Lab in Austin, TX.
"The availability of blood-based biomarkers of cognitive decline and new treatments for Alzheimer's disease are transforming brain health, but the nuances of maintaining accuracy while using capillary blood remain a major scientific challenge," said Eric Olson, founder and COO of Babson Diagnostics. "Our research collaboration with the University of Texas aims to support early detection by making neurology biomarkers more accessible without compromising quality."
"Blood-based biomarkers have tremendous potential to change how we assess memory impairment and brain health, but it is critical to understand their specificity and clinical relevance across different neurological conditions," said Melamed. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Babson Diagnostics to study blood biomarkers using a more accessible approach to blood collection."
The collaboration has already received external recognition and support through Texas Health Catalyst, where "Brain Health Capillary Biomarkers" by Cole Maguire, PhD, second year medical student at Dell Medical School and post-doctoral fellow in Dr. Melamed's lab, recently won the Showdown Pitch Award at the Texas Health Catalyst Roundup & Rodeo. This collaboration is a continuation of a partnership between Dr. Melamed's group at Dell Medical School and the Babson team that began during COVID, which led to the launch of the Babson aC19G1 COVID antibody test*, authorized under an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (FDA EUA reporting 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity) and peer-reviewed publications.
For more information on clinical study enrollment, potential participants can access https://sites.utexas.edu/melamed-lab/neuroimmunology-research/ and https://betterway.com/clinical-study.
*Babson Diagnostics no longer offers the Babson aC19G1 COVID antibody test.
About BetterWay Blood Testing by Babson Diagnostics
BetterWay is blood testing reimagined-patient-friendly fingertip collection with accurate lab results. One in three people skip blood testing due to anxiety, fear of needles, difficult venous access, or inconvenience. BetterWay enables blood testing without phlebotomy. This is designed to improve patient experience, increase adherence to testing, optimize staffing efficiency, and advance health equity. BetterWay was developed by Babson Diagnostics, a science-first healthcare technology company that has become the global leader in the use of capillary blood for routine testing.
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SOURCE: BetterWay Blood Testing
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:
https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/betterway-and-university-of-texas-to-collaborate-on-brain-health-capi-1226671
