Gates Ventures and Partners Launch $1M Prize for AI-Driven Alzheimer's Research

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, whose father succumbed to Alzheimer's disease, is spearheading a groundbreaking competition to harness artificial intelligence in the fight against Alzheimer's and related dementias. The Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative, backed by Gates Ventures and a coalition of academic, governmental, philanthropic and industry partners, has opened applications for a $1 million first prize focused on agentic AI research into Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

The competition unfolds in three rounds, with initial applications due September 12, followed by a second round on December 1, and final submissions by March 16, 2026. This strategic timeline allows researchers to refine their approaches and leverage the initiative's extensive resources throughout the development process.

At the heart of this effort lies the AD Workbench, a secure, cloud-based data sharing and analytics environment that serves as the technical backbone of the initiative. Created in 2020 when Gates established the AD Data Initiative, this platform represents a paradigm shift in how Alzheimer's research is conducted. "I worked with a coalition of partners to create ADDI, because we believe that more data sharing will accelerate progress towards an Alzheimer's breakthrough. To make this happen, ADDI created the Alzheimer's Disease workbench," Gates wrote in a blog post.

The AD Workbench operates as an interoperability layer, enabling researchers worldwide to share, access and analyze data across platforms at no cost. This democratization of data access has attracted partnerships with major data platforms including Answer ALS, Dementias Platform UK, Global Alzheimer's Association Interactive Network, Vivli, European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Health Data Research UK.

Recent momentum in the Alzheimer's research ecosystem underscores the timeliness of this competition. In June, Alamar Biosciences partnered with the AD Data Initiative and Gates Ventures to profile over 40,000 plasma samples using NULISA technology, aiming to accelerate biomarker discovery. The initiative also launched the AD Discovery Portal in February, offering researchers access to diverse datasets including imaging, omics, clinical and multi-modal data.

The broader landscape shows increasing investment in Alzheimer's research and technology. Illimis Therapeutics secured $42 million in Series B funding to develop GAIA-based Alzheimer's drugs, while Grey Matter Neurosciences raised $14 million for an ultrasound headset designed for Alzheimer's patients. These developments reflect growing confidence in technological approaches to addressing the disease that affects millions worldwide.

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