The Longitude Prize on ALS, a £7.5 million global challenge, has officially announced its 20 Discovery Award winners. Following a global call to action, these promising teams were chosen from almost 100 entries to receive £100,000 each.
The winning teams represent over 70 organisations across 12 countries, including King’s College London, Paris Brain Institute, ALS Therapy Development Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania. Beyond the financial award, these teams have gained access to the most comprehensive ALS patient dataset ever compiled, featuring genomic sequences of 9,000 patients and epigenomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics data for over 2,000 cases. As key data contributor to the Longitude Prize on ALS, Project MinE harmonised previously scattered and heterogeneous whole genome sequencing datasets into a single, coherent and usable joint dataset, enabling a smooth and efficient start for the participating teams.
Innovators will leverage this vast data alongside cutting-edge AI to identify and validate drug targets. As Dr Tanya Curry, Chief Executive of the MND Association, stated: “The successful 20 teams of innovators represent a real opportunity to transform the trajectory of the many living with this cruel disease”.
In 2027, ten of these teams will progress to the next stage, receiving an additional £200,000 to build their evidence base in silico and in the lab. In 2028, five teams will receive £500,000 for wet lab validation, with the ultimate £1 million winner to be announced in early 2031.
For more information on the winners, visit als.longitudeprize.org
