Join the SUDEP Challenge: Developing Predictive Biomarkers of Epilepsy Seizures

Each year, more than 1 out of 1,000 people with epilepsy die from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, known as SUDEP. If seizures are not controlled, the risk increases to 1 out of 150.

One way the Epilepsy Foundation SUDEP Institute is trying to save lives and end SUDEP is with a series of four multidisciplinary prize challenges.

1. The first challenge sought creative and viral advocacy campaign(s) to inform and educate people with epilepsy, families, and the health care community about SUDEP.
2. The second challenge asked solvers to develop an intervention to help people with epilepsy comply with treatment plans and decrease their risk of seizures.
3. In the third challenge, solvers proposed a predictive biomarker or panel of biomarkers to identify people at risk for SUDEP.

Learn more about the first three challenges.

Join the Fourth Challenge Now

The Fourth Challenge has three milestones and uses a reduction-to-practice model to develop a predictive biomarker or panel of biomarkers to identify people at risk for SUDEP or seizures that compromise cardiac or respiratory function. The biomarker(s) must serve as an endpoint or surrogate endpoint that will drive human SUDEP interventions. For example, the biomarker(s) may identify a high-risk patient group that could be used to test existing candidate interventions such as seizure detection devices.

The first milestone asked solvers to present a detailed project plan for the proposed solution for finding a predictive biomarker of epilepsy seizures. Learn more about this milestone and its winners.

The Fourth Challenge has two remaining milestones:

• Milestone 2 will close on October 10, 2017, and involves the production of proof-of-concept data. The SUDEP Institute will make up to four awards of $25,000 each for Milestone 2.  Winners will be invited and supported to present their submissions and findings at the 2018 Epilepsy Foundation Pipeline in San Francisco, California, in February 2018.
• Milestone 3 will close on October 10, 2020, and requires results that demonstrate the predictive efficacy of the biomarker(s). Milestone 3 submissions will be reviewed as they are received and, at the discretion of the SUDEP Institute, the first submission that meets all of the challenge criteria will be awarded the prize. The SUDEP Institute intends to make a final award of at least $800,000 for successful completion of Milestone 3.

Solvers can register and join the Fourth Challenge at any time! Participation in the previous milestones is not required.

Learn More and Register