Notice Number: NOT-TR-19-002
Key Dates
Release Date: September 26, 2018
The Challenge begins: September 30, 2018
Submission period: September 30, 2018 October 28, 2018
Judging Period: November 12, 2018 November 26, 2018
Winners Announced: December 2018
None
Issued by
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
Purpose
The purpose of this notice is to announce the NCATS Rare Diseases Are Not Rare! Challenge. The goal of this challenge is to reward and spur innovative approaches to effectively communicate with others and to educate people about rare diseases through social media or art.
The total prize purse is up to $5,000 awarded as follows:
- First place: $3000 and travel expenses for up to 4 people to participate in Rare Disease Day at NIH, February 28, 2019 to present the winning entry
- Second place: $1500
- Third place: $500
- Honorable mentions (10) will be posted on NCATS’ website
For full details about eligibility requirements, competition rules, detailed judging criteria, and deadlines for submissions, please consult the NCATS Rare Diseases Are Not Rare! Challenge page.
Description
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking innovative ways to communicate with others to educate people about rare diseases through social media or art. The goal of this challenge, which is being led by NCATS’ Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR), is threefold: First and foremost, it is to raise awareness for all rare diseases in a collective manner. Second, it is intended to bring attention to the many people with rare diseases; and finally, it is to highlight the need for research and the development of new treatments. You can help us get the word out by competing in our rare disease prize competition!
Find a way to communicate with others and to educate people about rare diseases through social media or art. Use any communication vehicle you choose; be as creative and original as possible. Here are examples of appropriate communication vehicles:
- music video
- song (with or without sheet music)
- dramatic reading
- poem
- painting
- mime
- poster
- comic
- animation
- photo/collage
- new name for “rare diseases”
- puppets
Each team or individual may submit only one entry.
Submitting a Response
Instructions for submission: Use any format you choose, provided it supports the type of submission be as creative and original as possible. Appropriate types of submissions (communication vehicles) include, but are not limited to, songs, poems, paintings, dramatic readings, mimes, puppets, posters, comics, animations, photos/collages or names.
Please prepare the submission using the Submission Requirements and Instructions document and submit it to Challenge.gov in an appropriate format. Detailed instructions on the submission process can be found below and in the submission requirements and instructions document.
Each submission for this challenge requires a complete “Submission Package.” The Submission Package includes a cover letter (up to 1 page) and the communication vehicle.
In the Cover Letter:
- Describe how your submission provides a solution to the challenge, that is, how your entry addresses the problem.
- Explain why you selected the type of communication vehicle.
- Describe the target audience and suggest means of disseminating the entry.
Submitting the communication vehicle:
Follow the instructions at Challenge.gov to submit the material. Care should be given to select and upload the appropriate file types and formats.
NOTE: You must NOT use the official seal or logo of HHS, or the logo of NIH or NCATS in the entries and must not claim federal government endorsement.
Judging criteria:
Entries will receive up to 5 points for each criterion, for a total of up to 15 points per entry.
- How creative and original is the entry?
- To what extent does the entry address rare diseases collectively?
- How likely is it that the entry could be an effective communication vehicle? Will it appeal to a broad audience? Is it easy to disseminate?
Solutions must be submitted to www.challenge.gov by NOON Eastern time on October 28, 2018.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Anne Pariser, M.D.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
Telephone: 301-402-4338
Email: anne.pariser@nih.gov
Alice Chen, M.D.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
Telephone: 301-827-2015
Email: alice.chen2@nih.gov
Inquiries may also be submitted by sending an email to ORDR@nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
