“This collaboration aligns closely with our expertise in data-driven target discovery, drug repurposing and translational science. Our team will play an active role in shaping how the Prize delivers impact, bringing rigour to the selection process by applying robust analytical and scientific due diligence, and helping to identify the most promising therapeutic hypotheses for further development. We see real potential for this global initiative to uncover novel targets and accelerate their progression into viable treatments for people living with ALS.” – Paul Wright, Head of MND and Rare Dementias.

Entries open on 25 June and close on 3 December 2025. In early 2026, as part of the initial phase of the Prize, 20 teams will each be awarded £100,000. At the end of the 5-year programme, one team will receive £1 million to identify the best target for new treatments.  

The Prize is principally funded by the Motor Neurone Disease Association and designed and delivered by Challenge Works, supported by Nesta, an innovation agency and charity supported by the UK Government. It is also supported by a set of additional funders: The Alan Davidson Foundation, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, FightMND, Answer ALS, The Packard Center at John Hopkins University and the 10,000 Brains Project. 

The Prize is working with a range of global data and technology partners including Project MinE, ALS Compute, Answer ALS, New York Genome Centre, ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), Amazon Web Services (AWS) and DNANexus, as well as research partner UK MND Research Institute. 

The Longitude Prize on ALS is the third in a series of initiatives led by Challenge Works to drive innovation to tackle some of the world’s most challenging health issues. It builds on the success of the Longitude Prize on AMR, which named its winner in 2024, and the ongoing Longitude Prize on Dementia, set to announce its winner in 2026.