Key Dates

Related Announcements

•  March 18, 2024 - Notice of Information: NICHD to issue a Research Opportunity Announcement to support Advancing Cures and Therapies and ending ENDOmetriosis diagnostic delays - ACT ENDO (OTA Clinical Trial Optional) See Notice NOT-HD-24-016

Issued by

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to alert the community that NIH plans to change the type of announcement and supporting mechanism for “Advancing Cures and Therapies and ending ENDOmetriosis diagnostic delays" (ACT ENDO) from a Research Opportunity Announcement to a prize competition announcement through the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Technology (RADx® Tech) program.  The prize competition is intended for publication on challenge.gov. The RADx Tech ACT ENDO challenge announcement is intended to be the only funding announcement for ACT ENDO at this time; NIH no longer plans to issue a research opportunity announcement in support of ACT ENDO.

Challenge Purpose

NICHD, in partnership with the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), intends to launch the RADx Tech ACT ENDO Challenge with a focus on accelerating the development of non-invasive diagnostic technologies that can shorten the time to diagnosis, eliminate the invasiveness of current techniques, and/or improve accessibility, safety, convenience, and costs of diagnosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by the growth of uterine endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus.  The often-debilitating condition affects approximately 1 in 10 reproductive-aged women worldwide. Novel approaches are urgently needed to identify those who are afflicted with the condition and to spur the development of new treatments and cures.

Examples of desired technologies include, but are not limited to, imaging technologies, in vitro diagnostic devices, clinical laboratory tests, wearable devices, smartphone-enabled diagnostic tools, integrated sensing technologies, and digital health platforms. Diagnostics developed under this challenge can be directed specifically to symptomatic populations or as a screening modality for symptomatic and asymptomatic women.

Challenge Details

The RADx Tech ACT ENDO Challenge plans to offer a total prize purse of $3,000,000, which will be distributed across multiple phases of the competition and awarded to organizations who successfully complete the objectives and requirements of each phase.

1. Submission Phase

Innovators will initially submit a proposal describing in detail their prototype diagnostic technology, anticipated clinical impact, and plans for continued development. Technologies at the conceptual design or idea stage will not be considered responsive and are unlikely to be selected to advance. Up to eight (8) winners will be selected as semi-finalists and be invited to advance to Phase 2. Only winners of Phase 1 will be eligible to compete in Phase 2. 

      2. Technology Demonstration and Pitch Presentation Event

During this phase, Innovators will participate in a virtual event and deliver a pitch presentation and demonstration of the technology as well as plans for further development and maturation. Further details on the logistics, timing, and format of the presentations will be provided to the Phase 1 winners. Up to four (4) winners of Phase 2 will be selected as finalists to receive a cash prize of $100,000 each and advance to Phase 3 of the Challenge. Only winners of Phase 2 will be eligible to compete in Phase 3. 

      3. Technology Development Sprint

The objective of this Phase is to support Innovators as they rapidly advance the development of their technologies over a period of 12 months and increase their likelihood for making a clinically meaningful impact in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Within the first half of Phase 3, Innovators will have the opportunity to compete for an Interim Milestone Prize of $250,000 each based upon the demonstration of substantial effort towards furthering the development and de-risking of each technology. Final prizes ranging from $100,000 - $600,000 will be awarded at the conclusion of Phase 3. 

An informational webinar for this challenge will be held August 28, 2024. Registration details will be available on the challenge.gov website when the RADx Tech ACT ENDO Challenge announcement is posted.

NICHD intends to conduct this Challenge under the authority provided by Section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), as added by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-358).

Proposals are not being solicited at this time.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Please direct scientific inquiries to:

Candace Tingen, PhD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [NICHD]
Telephone: 301-435-6971
Email: [email protected]

Please direct inquiries on the RADx Tech Challenge Process to:

[email protected]