$100,000 prize purse invites researchers to apply astronomy’s AI methods to kidney disease data

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kidney disease affects approximately 35.5 million people in the United States, yet critical gaps remain in understanding how the disease develops, progresses and responds to treatment. To help close those gaps, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) today announced the launch of the Kidney Artificial Intelligence Discovery Challenge: From Nebulae to Nephrons, inviting researchers to apply artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision techniques to uncover previously unrecognized patterns in kidney disease data. The challenge is facilitated by HeroX, the leading platform and open marketplace for crowdsourced solutions.

The challenge is administered by NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which established the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP) to map kidney cell types, tissue structures and disease pathways. Participants will use publicly available data from the KPMP Kidney Tissue Atlas — including whole-slide biopsy images, spatial and molecular data, and clinical information — to identify rare or unexpected disease signatures that traditional analysis methods may overlook.

The approach draws on techniques from astronomy, where AI-based anomaly detection has helped researchers identify rare gravitational lenses hidden in archival telescope images. NIDDK is asking whether similar methods can uncover hidden discoveries in kidney pathology and advance precision nephrology.

“This challenge invites researchers to bring fresh computational eyes to kidney data that has never been examined this way,” said Dr. Robert Star, Director of NIDDK’s Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases. “By adapting anomaly-detection methods proven in fields like astronomy, we hope to uncover patterns that deepen our understanding of kidney disease and move us closer to more personalized patient care.”

Submissions will be evaluated on discovery and novelty of findings (50 points), technical approach and performance (30 points), and scientific interpretability and usability of results (20 points). NIDDK anticipates awarding up to three cash prizes from a total purse of $100,000, including $50,000 for first place, $30,000 for second place and $20,000 for third place.

The submission window runs from Nov. 5, 2026 through April 29, 2027, with judging taking place April 30 through June 30, 2027. Winners will be announced Sept. 1, 2027.

Participants can register and review full eligibility and submission requirements at herox.com/KidneyAI.

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