NEW YORK CITY (MARCH 6, 2024) — Firefly Innovations, the premier public health entrepreneurship platform of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, in partnership with the New York City Pandemic Response Institute (PRI), launched the Grand Challenge Competition for Innovations in Public Health Emergencies.
The competition seeks to identify the most promising ideas and technological solutions for public health emergencies - from pandemics to climate change - within the following focus areas:
Access to Care and Social Services Solutions which improve the ability of residents to fill their critical needs during public health emergencies.
Community Engagement & Communications Solutions which enhance the ability to reach and mobilize the public.
Data Sharing, Analytics, Modeling, & Forecasting Solutions which increase the prediction and shared understanding of public health emergencies.
Diagnostic Solutions which address access gaps and advance point-of-care, laboratory, or other testing efforts.
Submissions are required to include an emphasis on Health Equity & Social Determinants of Health and submissions in the areas of Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning are highly encouraged but not required.
Winning ideas will receive:
Up to ten $500 prizes for the top ideas
Opportunities to connect with multidisciplinary researchers at Columbia University and the City University of New York
Invitation to apply for a seed grant for R&D
An invitation to pitch at the PRI Innovation Forum
Deadline to apply is March 31, 2024.
The New York City Pandemic Response Institute (PRI) is a landmark initiative designed to proactively prepare NYC for future public health threats – from infectious disease to climate-related health emergencies. Its mission is to advance racial equity, build resilience, and promote public health preparedness throughout NYC and around the globe. PRI is led by ICAP at Columbia University with its key partner, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.
