TOPx HHS Tech Sprint for AI and Invisible Illness
The TOPx HHS Tech Sprint for AI and Invisible Illness by NIH Challenges funds AI-driven tools using open data to improve detection and care for hard-to-diagnose chronic conditions like Lyme disease and Long COVID.
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Funder: NIH Challenges
Due Dates: July 15, 2026 (Team Mobilization Phase 1 closes) | October 15, 2026 (TOPx Sprint Phase 2 closes) | October 22, 2026 (Final Live MVP Demo Showcase closes)
Funding Amounts: Up to $2,000,000 in total cash prizes; Grand Prize: $1,000,000; First Place (3): $200,000 each; Second Place (3): $50,000 each; Impact Awards (15): $15,000 each; People’s Choice (5): $5,000 each.
Summary: National competition to develop AI-powered tools using open data for improved detection and care of invisible illnesses such as Lyme disease and Long COVID.
Key Information: All cash prizes are awarded only at the conclusion of Phase 2; participants retain IP rights to their solutions.
Description
The TOPx HHS Tech Sprint for AI and Invisible Illness is a national prize competition organized by NIH Challenges, in partnership with HHS and other federal collaborators. The challenge seeks to accelerate the development of AI-driven digital tools that leverage U.S. Open Data to address complex chronic conditions—such as Lyme disease, Long COVID, and autoimmune disorders—that are often difficult to diagnose and treat. The sprint is designed to mobilize industry, entrepreneurs, researchers, and communities to create actionable solutions that improve detection, care, and decision-making for these “invisible illnesses.” Participants will rapidly prototype and demonstrate minimum viable products (MVPs) that transform fragmented data into real-world impact, supporting federal data modernization and interoperability efforts.
