Detect to Protect Challenge:
A Live Animal Test for CWD Timeline

Timeline Overview

February 22, 2021

Open Submissions for Phase 1 – Design Paper

All teams are invited to submit their design paper to enter the challenge.

May 7, 2021

Phase 1 – Submissions Due

Submit your submission for judges to evaluate and select solutions to advance into Phase 2.

June 21, 2021

Phase 2 Begins – Experimentation and Early Development of Laboratory or Diagnostic Tests

Up to 7 teams selected to develop their proposed laboratory or diagnostic tests.

Individual USDA Expert Virtual Session

Collaborate and receive technical assistance from USDA scientists. The week for the training session will determined at a later date.

September 15, 2021

Confirm or Obtain Permit

Challenge participants to obtain a permit by September 15, 2021 or identify a laboratory that has a permit and can receive regulated CWD samples.

October 21, 2021

Receive Phase 1 test samples

USDA-APHIS delivers Phase 1 test samples to challenge participants

November 23, 2021

Complete Proof-of-Concept demonstration using positive and negative test samples.

Challenge participants submit results by November 23, 2021 or 40 business days after receiving the control samples, whichever is latest.

December 16, 2021

Receive coded samples

USDA-APHIS delivers coded samples (id. Infection status not identified) to challenge participants within eight weeks of the request. The time frame will be dependent upon the availability of the requested sample type.

February 15, 2022

Phase 2 – Coded samples test results submission due

Challenge participants submit test results by February 15, 2022 or 40 business days after receiving the coded samples.

Detect to Protect Challenge: A Live Animal Test for CWD Timeline