Longitude Prize on ALS

An international prize bringing together researchers, data and technology to accelerate breakthroughs in treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The fight against motor neurone disease (MND) needs bold ideas. And it needs them now.  

The Longitude Prize on ALS is an international challenge prize to incentivise the use of AI-based approaches to transform drug discovery for the treatment of ALS, the most common form of MND. 

The prize is designed and delivered by Challenge Works by Nesta and principally funded by the MND Association together with FightMND and other international funders. 

At its heart, the Prize is about working across countries, disciplines and technologies to accelerate progress for people living with MND. 

Why this matters

Motor neurone disease is complex. There is no cure. And treatment options are limited.  

New technologies are changing what is possible. Large amounts of data can now be analysed quickly using AI. It can find patterns people cannot see. When combined with shared knowledge and global collaboration, this technology has the power to unlock new discoveries, and new hope.  

Prize timeline and stages

The Longitude Prize on ALS is a five-year global challenge. It is comprised of three key stages.  

Stage 1: Discover 

April – December 2026 

Twenty interdisciplinary teams will use AI to analyse datasets provided by the Prize. Information will be used to: 

  • identify novel therapeutic targets for treating ALS, or 
  • provide new evidence that validates previously identified but unverified targets for treating ALS. 

Stage 2: Prioritise 

May 2027 – April 2028 

Ten teams will be shortlisted to research the targets identified in stage 1. They will use computer analysis and lab testing to confirm and strengthen their evidence.  

Stage 3: Validate 

September 2028 – August 2030 

Five shortlisted teams will complete in-depth laboratory research on the most promising therapeutic targets. This stage will generate high-confidence data to support their progression toward clinical application. 

Prize Winner 

The prize will award one winning team demonstrating exceptional progress in validating therapeutic target(s) with the highest potential impact on ALS treatment. 

Learn more

More information about the Prize is available on the Longitude Prize on ALS website.