Agricultural Research Service
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FAQ
Most frequently asked questions and answers designed to help contestants understand how to enter and participate in the Detect to Protect Challenge: Live Animal Test for CWD. We are actively collecting and updating this page based on your questions.
Have a specific question? Email us at cwdchallenge@sensisagency.com
Our goal is to inspire innovative development of novel diagnostic tests that can provide proof of concept through limited testing on provided samples. Competitive solutions to this challenge shall be 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 manufactured. The ideal solutions to this challenge are diagnostic tests that could be eligible for approval as an official Chronic Wasting Disease test by the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Yes. All contestants must participate and be invited to advance through each phase in order to participate in the final Phase 2 evaluation and final prize awards.