Single cell analysis is a rapidly evolving field that encompasses many disciplines. For example, recent advances in single cell RNA and DNA sequencing technologies have showed great promise, but researchers must still be able to differentiate between biological variation and technical noise in the context of dynamic cellular states. The NIH Single Cell Analysis Program (SCAP) seeks novel robust methods for analysis of individual cells that can serve as the basis for assessment  of changing cell behavior and function over time either as a result of natural state changes or when perturbed (e.g. by a drug, biological stimulus, infectious agent, pathological lesion, or mechanical forces). The Solver must rationalize how the application of the proposed method will successfully allow for monitoring of meaningful state changes in a single cell across time to answer at least one impactful, biological or clinical question.

Submissions to the Phase 1 Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on December 15, 2014. Late submissions will not be considered.

Phase 1 is a Theoretical Challenge that requires only a written proposal to be submitted. The Challenge award will be contingent upon evaluation of the written proposal by a technical evaluation panel serving the Seeker. Individuals and teams invited to participate in Phase 2, Reduction to Practice, may add members, who meet the eligibility requirements, to help support or sponsor efforts in Phase 2.

To receive an award, Solvers will not be required to transfer their exclusive IP rights to the Seeker. Instead, Solvers will grant to the Seeker a non-exclusive license to practice their solutions.

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

This Challenge is being held under the America COMPETES Authority where awards may only be awarded to individuals (participating singly or in a team) who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.  Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to win a prize for this Challenge. Foreign citizens can participate as a member of team but will not be eligible to win a prize; however, acknowledgement of their participation as part of a winning team will be recognized when results are announced. If you have a question about eligibility, please read the Challenge Specific Agreement Eligibility Rules section or use your Project Room to ask a question. Details on the specific eligibility criteria are listed in the Federal Register Notice (https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-18870).

ABOUT THE SEEKER

The Single Cell Analysis Program (SCAP) is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund. The Common Fund began a decade ago to support collaborative programs with participation by all NIH Institutes and Centers. These programs must also be transformative, catalytic, synergistic, and unique. The overall goal of SCAP is to accelerate the discovery, development, and translation of cross-cutting, innovative approaches to analyzing the heterogeneity of biologically relevant populations of cells in situ. Through various grant mechanisms, SCAP currently supports multiple research projects including transcriptional profiling of single cells (U01), and development of new tools and technologies for single cell analysis (R21 and R01) (http://commonfund.nih.gov/singlecell/grants).

The majority of current SCAP awardees are associated with academic institutions. This Challenge will strengthen and complement the existing SCAP grant portfolio by reaching out to a broader diverse population of innovators and solvers, including not only those who are from academic institutions, but also those who are from research and development communities in the private sector, and those who are outside biomedical disciplines. It is hoped that this Challenge will stimulate investment from both public and private sectors in single cell analysis research and product development, which will in turn lead to the development of more sensitive, more robust, and more cost-effective assay approaches, reagents, tools, and devices for basic research and clinical diagnosis.