The ALS Assistive Technology Challenge

Timeline

March - July 2016:
Prize Phase duration, challenge registration is open.

Teams can register for the Challenge by completing this form. Registered teams will appear on the challenge website, unless they specifically request to remain anonymous.

During the Challenge, the organizers will host several optional webinars to help participant. Topics include ALS-specific needs, safety and regulatory considerations and other topics that could help the teams in their development. The webinars are not mandatory and serve only to help the teams. The organizers will also try to help registered participants in connection to patients for testing, according to need.

July 29, 2016:
Letters of Intent (LOI) submission due (Prize Phase registration closes).

All teams will be required to submit a letter of intent (LOI) by July 29, 2016. The LOI should not exceed 2 pages and should include a description of the communication solution, its feasibility and scientific merit, briefly outline budget and timeline for production and describe preliminary results (if any).

LOI’s will be reviewed by the judging committee and selected teams will be requested to make a final submission

September 2016:
Selected teams will be notified and requested to submit a full written grant submission.

Full written submissions should include:

• The project outline, scope and budget.
• The scientific rationale and innovation beyond current technology.
• The fit of the prototype to the criteria listed above.
• Preliminary results from prototype testing.
• Video material demonstrating the use of the prototype with an ALS patient.
• Plans for prototype development into a product, business plan and plans for future prototype production.
• Timeline and budget for further development, outlining three expected milestones in the coming two years (or less) in prototype development. Milestones could include testing on patients, further technological development, regulatory approvals and market dissemination. All milestones must be clearly stated in terms of the timeline and outcome measures.

October 7, 2016:
Final written grant submissions due.

The written submissions will be comparatively assessed by an expert panel comprising of technology experts, patient representatives and ALS clinical experts.

November 10, 2016:
Finalists are selected and invited to the finale assessment event.

Up to 5 solutions will be selected. The finalists will be invited to participate in the finale assessment event and award ceremony, taking place in Dublin, Dec. 5-6, 2016. Finalists will have to prepare a working prototype of their communication solution and a brief presentation describing their work.

December 2016:
The ALS Assistive Technology finale assessment event.

Finalists will present their work to the judging panel and invited guests. In addition, the prototypes will be assessed directly on testers (ALS patients and caregivers). The prototype that best meets the Challenge criteria will be awarded the first place prize. If no prototypes meet the criteria, the first place prize will not be awarded.

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