Executive Summary
The NIH Office of Autoimmune Disease Research offers a $650K prize purse for digital health apps that help people with autoimmune diseases track how diet affects immune health. Phase 1 prototypes are due January 8, 2027, 8:00 PM ET; ten $20K prizes, then two more phases.
The deciding factor is a working tool. Phase 1 asks for a digital health prototype, and only highly meritorious Phase 1 entries are invited to optimize and test their tools in Phase 2, then demonstrate them live in Phase 3.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Sponsor: NIH Office of Autoimmune Disease Research, Office of Research on Women's Health (OADR-ORWH), with NIH partners
- Opportunity: NOURISH (Nutrition for OUR Immune System Health): Autoimmunity Digital Health Challenge
- Type: Three-phase prize competition
- Funding: $650,000 total prize purse: Phase 1, 10 prizes of $20,000; Phase 2, 5 prizes of $30,000; Phase 3, 3 prizes of $100,000
- Phase 1 Window: October 1, 2026 to January 8, 2027
- Due Date: Phase 1 submissions due January 8, 2027, 8:00 PM ET
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the January 8, 2027 deadline.
What Is the NOURISH Challenge?
NOURISH is an NIH prize challenge that crowdsources the next generation of digital health applications to help people living with autoimmune diseases monitor how their diet and nutrition affect their immune system health.
What Problem Is NIH Trying to Solve?
Autoimmune diseases are common and understudied, and patients and clinicians have asked for practical tools to monitor the links between diet, nutrition, symptoms and flares. NIH wants data-driven tools that personalize nutrition and capture real-world, real-time data.
Priority Capability Areas: What NIH Is Looking For
- Personalization: data-driven methods that tailor nutrition guidance
- Diet optimization: tools that help people adjust diet in response to symptoms
- Real-world data capture: real-time tracking of diet, symptoms and flares
- Modeling: analytics that improve the lived experience of people with autoimmune diseases
Phases and Prizes
- Phase 1, prototype development: October 1, 2026 to January 8, 2027; up to 10 prizes of $20,000
- Phase 2, optimization and testing: 2027, for invited Phase 1 entries; 5 prizes of $30,000
- Phase 3, live demonstration and final evaluation: 2028, for invited Phase 2 entries; 3 prizes of $100,000
The challenge site lists slightly different month ranges for Phases 2 and 3 in two places; check the official rules for exact dates.
Eligibility
- Entities: must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the U.S.
- Individuals: must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, including team members
- Federal: federal entities and federal employees acting within the scope of their employment are not eligible
- License: participants grant NIH a royalty-free, nonexclusive license to publish and display the submission and keep all other IP rights
How to Apply
- Register: sign up as a NOURISH participant on the challenge site
- Read the rules: review the challenge announcement and participant agreement
- Attend office hours: sessions are scheduled for December 17, 2026 and January 5, 2027, 4:00 PM ET
- Submit: send your Phase 1 prototype by January 8, 2027, 8:00 PM ET
What Happens After You Submit?
- Phase 1 judging: NIH selects up to 10 Phase 1 winners
- Phase 2: highly meritorious entries are invited to refine their tools through beta testing and user feedback
- Phase 3: top Phase 2 entries are invited to a live demonstration and final evaluation
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits digital health teams building nutrition tracking, symptom logging, personalization or chronic disease self-management apps. It is a weak fit for teams without a buildable prototype by January, or that cannot accept the NIH publication license.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For prize challenges like NOURISH, we help you:
- Check fit: match your app to the challenge goals
- Shape the submission: frame your prototype for the judges
- Plan the phases: map work and cost through Phase 3
- Protect your IP: plan what the NIH license covers
- Find the next step: connect a win to SBIR or other NIH funding
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs NOURISH?
The NIH Office of Autoimmune Disease Research, Office of Research on Women's Health, with NIH partners.
How much prize money is there?
$650,000 in total: 10 Phase 1 prizes of $20,000, 5 Phase 2 prizes of $30,000 and 3 Phase 3 prizes of $100,000.
When is Phase 1 due?
January 8, 2027, 8:00 PM ET.
Who can compete?
U.S.-incorporated entities with a primary place of business in the U.S., and U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Do I keep my IP?
Yes, except that NIH receives a royalty-free, nonexclusive license to publish and display your submission.
Is there a fee to enter?
The challenge site does not list an entry fee; check the official rules.
What happens after Phase 1?
Highly meritorious Phase 1 entries are invited to Phase 2, and top Phase 2 entries to Phase 3.
Can BW&CO help with a NOURISH submission?
Yes. BW&CO can help you shape the submission and plan follow-on funding. Book a call with our team.