The National Institutes of Health announced on Feb. 26 a new competition to support the development of hand-held digital technologies to for non-invasive diagnosis and treatment of some of the world's highest-burden diseases.
The Technology Accelerator Challenge will focus on sickle cell disease, malaria and anemia. Ideally, the challenge will result in the creation of a platform technology that can both rapidly screen large global populations and serve as a therapeutic tool for individual patients.
Because a main goal of the challenge is to improve access to diagnostic tools and treatments in low-income areas, the ideal solution is portable and inexpensive, can be used to treat multiple diseases and adapts to each patient's individual health and environment.
The winner of the challenge will receive up to $500,000, with five semifinalists receiving smaller awards. Additionally, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will contribute grants of up to $500,000 and potential partnerships, consultations and other follow-on support for the competition's winners and runners-up.