2023 Restoring Brain Health Innovation Challenge

How could data science generate novel insights from disparate sources to advance care in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias?

MATTER, with support from the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund, has launched the Restoring Brain Health Innovation Challenge to identify solutions that use data science to generate novel insights from disparate sources to advance care in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

For years, data analytics has been used in healthcare to fuel faster and more accurate diagnoses, inform decision-making, personalize treatment, improve patient care and outcomes, lower costs and more.¹ With recent advances in the use of big data and generative artificial intelligence, more organizations are exploring new ways to apply these modern data science tools to address persistent healthcare challenges.

One of the key challenges in advancing care for the growing population living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is the aggregation of meaningful insights from a wide range of disparate sources of raw data, including electronic health records (EHRs), personal health records, patient portals and health-related smart phone apps, in addition to large amounts of unstructured data, strict data privacy and security regulations and a variety of data formats.^1,2

Overcoming these challenges to glean useful, harmonized population insights could help improve the quality of life for the more than six million Americans, and 55 million people worldwide, who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.^3,4

This ten-week, cohort-based accelerator will provide participants with mentorship, exclusive resources and an interactive curriculum to help them build their solutions and accelerate their growth. Each participant will receive a $10,000 stipend upon completion of the challenge.

Participants should expect to:

• Engage with other cutting-edge startups
• Network with peers and leading influencers
• Receive mentorship from industry leaders and subject matter experts
• Gain exposure to MATTER’s community
• Pitch to investors, health systems, providers and others
• Receive a $10,000 stipend upon completion of the challenge
• Receive a free, six-month MATTER membership beginning at the conclusion of challenge

August 7: Applications open
October 1: Applications close
October 20: Cohort announced
October 30, 2023–January 26, 2024: 10-week accelerator
January 30, 2024: Final showcase (in person at MATTER)

We’re seeking entrepreneurs who are leveraging data science tools in new ways to uncover novel insights from large datasets. While the challenge will apply this concept to better understanding the area of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, entrepreneurs do not necessarily need to be focused on healthcare to participate in this challenge. This global call for solutions is open to individuals and teams from across the innovation ecosystem — from university researchers, students and entrepreneurs to existing startups of all stages. Solutions can range from early stage concepts to marketed solutions.

See the Restoring Brain Health Innovation Challenge FAQs for more information.

Submissions will be evaluated with the following criteria in mind:

• Ability to clearly articulate the challenge statement addressed in the challenge description
• Quality, feasibility and scale of proposed solution or technology
• Differentiation of solution within the competitive landscape
• Capability of participant/team to develop and execute solution
• Ability of data science solution to generate novel insights from disparate sources to advance care in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Applications will be open from August 7, 2023, until September 29, 2023, at 11:59pm CT. By October 20, MATTER will select and notify up to six teams to participate in the challenge. The program will be fully virtual with the exception of the final showcase, for which each participant will be required to be in person at MATTER in Chicago, Illinois, on January 30, 2024.

See the full Terms and Conditions.

Sources:

1. “The Role of Data Analytics in Health Care,” University of Pittsburgh, 2021.
2. “Big data in healthcare: management, analysis and future prospects,” Journal of Big Data, 2019.
3. “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures,” Alzheimer’s Association, 2023.

About MATTER

At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 800 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.

About the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund

The Lundbeck US Charitable Fund is an independently managed nonprofit 501(c)(3) committed to responsibly and appropriately supporting organizations and programs that share our dedication to restoring brain health. The Lundbeck US Charitable Fund is wholly owned by H. Lundbeck A/S, a global pharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases. For more than 70 years, Lundbeck has been at the forefront of neuroscience research, tirelessly dedicated to restoring brain health so every person can be their best.