Advance Live Animal Tests for the Early Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease

About the Detect to Protect Challenge:
A Live Animal Test for CWD

Sensis, on behalf of The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), is hosting the Detect to Protect Challenge: A Live Animal Test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The challenge invites innovators to submit their idea for a diagnostic test for the early detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a live animal, prior to clinical signs.

 

Our goal is to inspire the innovative development of a novel diagnostic test that will successfully detect CWD in samples provided by USDA for this challenge. Competitive solutions to this challenge shall consist of novel diagnostic tests that are sensitive and specific for CWD, producing timely and repeatable results on samples easily obtained from live deer. Competitive solutions will also be cost-effective and readily manufacturable. The ideal solutions to this challenge are diagnostic tests that would be eligible for approval as an official Chronic Wasting Disease test by the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA.

 

Sensis will award prizes valued up to $170,000. The Detect to Protect Challenge: A Live Animal Test is calling upon innovators and scientists,  researchers, and/or startup companies to submit their proposal for developing a novel diagnostic test for the early detection of CWD in a live animal, prior to clinical signs.  

Watch the Phase 1 Informational Webinar

Detect to Protect: A Live Animal Test for CWD

Develop a diagnostic test for the early detection of Chronic Wasting Disease.
Develop a live animal diagnostic test and provide proof-of-concept data for the early detection of CWD that is eligible for consideration for approval as an official test by USDA-APHIS and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).
View Challenge Overview

How To Enter

Get Smart & Register Your Team

Read about the problem, submission requirements, and eligibility terms to participate in this prize challenge. Complete the registration form to set up your participant profile. 

Develop your Concept

Learn about the Phase 1 submission requirements then submit your idea. 

Submit your Entry

Log-in and complete your submission on the challenge platform by May 7, 2021.

award@2x

$170,000 in Awards and Prizes

Phase 1 total prize pool: $70,000

Phase 2 total prize pool: $100,000

 

Win cash awards to develop proof-of-concept and expand your network.

Win prizes and the opportunity to work with USDA experts to develop your novel live-animal diagnostic or laboratory test.

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