US Department of Health and Human Services logo
US Department of Health and Human Services

TOPx HHS Tech Sprint for AI and Invisible Illness — Grand Prize

Pays a $1,000,000 grand prize to the team with the best AI tool for Lyme disease or other invisible illness.

ClosedUS Department of Health and Human ServicesUnited StatesApplicants in Indiana

Runs in two phases: a non-monetary Team Mobilization round where a panel selects up to 15 teams per challenge area (up to 45 total, plus up to 15 alternates) from short concept proposals, then a TOPx Sprint round, roughly eleven weeks long, where advancing teams build and demo a working minimum viable product. Both phases are scored on the same 20-point rubric, split equally across four criteria:

Open to individuals, teams and organizations that build AI-powered tools using U.S. Open Data to improve detection, care and understanding of hard-to-diagnose chronic conditions such as Lyme disease, Long COVID and other autoimmune illnesses. Entrants pick one of three challenge tracks: Lyme Innovation, Invisible Illness, or Cost of Illness. Entities must be U.S.-incorporated with a U.S. primary place of business, and individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or over.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Prize
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.$2M

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