Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the NOURISH (Nutrition for OUR Immune System Health): Autoimmunity Digital Health Challenge—a competition aimed at encouraging development of digital applications to help people with, or at risk for, autoimmune diseases track how diet and nutrition impact their health. The challenge will take place in three phases focusing on development, design, and implementation of these tools.
Autoimmune diseases affect more than 8% of the U.S. population, with estimates ranging from 23.5 to 50 million Americans living with over 140 different conditions. These diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among women and younger individuals, while men tend to experience more severe disease progression and higher mortality.
The economic burden of autoimmune diseases in the U.S. exceeds $100 billion annually, not including indirect costs such as lost productivity and societal impacts. Despite their widespread impact, many autoimmune diseases remain under-researched, with limited treatment options.
To address this, Congress established the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research within the NIH's Office of Research on Women's Health to accelerate progress. The NOURISH challenge supports this goal by encouraging innovation in digital health solutions that empower patients to manage their conditions.
Challenge submissions may compete for up to $650,000 in prize money, with the NIH seeking applications that enable users to track diet and symptom interactions, improving health management for those with autoimmune diseases.