NIH Build UP Trust Challenge

Online contact form

The NIH Build UP Trust Challenge is designed to find new ways to improve engagement with underserved populations. The focus is on building trust and adopting community-based strategies that increase the detection, treatment, and management of health conditions.

Examples of community engagement strategies, tools, and interventions may include, but are not limited to:

• Faith-based lifestyle interventions
• Wellness screening at local farmer's market
• Culturally tailored in-home interventions
• Assessing wastewater for community health
• Screenings and health information provided at trusted places within the community
• Antimicrobial resistance detection and prevention

Underserved populations vary greatly across the country, and may include racial and ethnic minorities, rural and urban communities, LGBTQ+, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Factors that lead to a lack of trust in healthcare may include historical marginalization, lack of cultural awareness, lack of appropriately tailored information, and the spread of misinformation, among others.

Judging criteria:

1. Equitable - To what extent did the solution increase engagement and participation from communities that are underserved/marginalized/underrepresented? How well were systemic barriers, lack of access, and issues of disparity identified and addressed?
2. Transformative - To what degree is the solution innovative and designed to break down barriers to improve health and quality of life in communities that are underserved/marginalized/underrepresented? How well will it result in systemic change that will benefit communities over time?
3. Community centered - How well does the team reflect authentic community connection to address challenges and build community trust? How well is the approach responsive to and supported by the communities it intends to serve?
4. Feasible - How well does the team have the skills, capacity, experience, and relationships needed to mitigate risk and deliver results? To what extent are the plans practical with evidence the solution can sustain impact and scale?

Eligibility and participation rules

Phase 1 will select up to 10 finalists who will each be awarded a prize of up to $45,000, and up to 5 honorable mentions. Phase 1 finalists and honorable mentions will be invited to participate in Phase 2 of the challenge.

Phase 2 will then select up to 4 winners who will each be awarded prizes of up to $200,000.

Register and apply online through the Build Up Trust Challenge website.