The PREPARE Challenge is a funding opportunity offered by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aimed at advancing solutions for the early prediction of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). The goal is to develop accurate, innovative, and representative prediction models for these conditions by utilizing diverse data sources and cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The challenge is designed to bridge gaps in the current clinical methods that lack sensitivity for diagnosing AD/ADRD at early stages, as well as to address the biases and limitations present in existing research and data.

The challenge is structured in three phases, each building on the previous to progressively enhance the understanding and capabilities surrounding AD/ADRD prediction. The first phase, "Find IT," focuses on identifying and gathering inclusive and representative datasets that can aid in the early prediction of AD/ADRD, with an emphasis on addressing data biases. The second phase, "Build IT," is centered on advancing algorithms and analytical models that can process this data, while ensuring that these models are ethical and explainable. The third and final phase, "Put IT All Together," will bring together the best solutions from previous phases, testing them on diverse datasets to refine the predictive algorithms. This phase will include an innovation event where teams will share their findings, results, and recommendations.

The challenge places significant importance on improving health equity by encouraging the use of data from underserved and underrepresented communities, especially those disproportionately impacted by AD/ADRD, such as Black American older adults. This focus includes addressing social determinants of health and other factors contributing to health disparities in dementia diagnoses. Submissions should propose solutions that can potentially rectify these disparities while adhering to the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework, which helps identify tools and technologies relevant to different levels of analysis.

The anticipated dates for the various phases are as follows: Phase I launched on September 1, 2023, with submissions due by January 31, 2024. Phase II will begin on October 22, 2024, with model submissions due by December 19, 2024, and report submissions by January 22, 2025. Phase III is expected to launch on April 8, 2025, with submissions due by July 1, 2025.

The PREPARE Challenge is part of a broader NIH effort to improve the prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's and related dementias, leveraging the authority granted under the 21st Century Cures Act and the COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.