Sunday, January 25, 2015

Understanding the Antidepressant Effect of Ketamine

Boehringer Ingelheim Challenge: Understanding the Antidepressant Effect of Ketamine

Challenge Reward:
 
$21,000 USD
 
Challenge Type:
 
Ideation
 
INNOCENTIVE:
 
9933561
1. The Challenge and qualification for the award
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder with about 20 million prevalent cases in the United States. Various antidepressants are available for treatment of patients suffering from MDD, however, about 50% of MDD patients do not respond adequately to initial treatments. Recent evidence shows that ketamine administered to patients with treatment resistant depression has resulted in marked improvement within hours of treatment. Boehringer Ingelheim (the Seeker) desires a working hypothesis for ketamine’s mechanism of action and sustained antidepressant effect.
The submitted solutions will be considered for the award. There will be a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution. The total payout will be $21,000, with at least one award being no smaller than $12,000 and no award being smaller than $3,000.
2. Additional application for Research Funding
In addition to consideration for the award for the submitted Solutions, Solvers with appropriate qualifications and expertise having access to a suitable research laboratory and equipment can apply for research funding (“Research Funding”) to execute a research plan that is proposed in the Solution. The requested funding should not exceed a funding period of 2 years and a total budget of $200,000. The selection of candidates for Research Funding will be conducted after completion of this Challenge, and will require the submission of additional information. The decision to fund research will be at the discretion of the Seeker.
Submissions to this Challenge including additional optional application for Research Funding must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 15, 2015. Late submissions will not be considered.

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