Invitation to Participate – D-Challenge 2025: Data-Driven Discovery in Type 1 Diabetes

D-Challenge 2025

We are excited to share an opportunity for Type 1 diabetes (T1D)–focused researchers, computational biologists, and data scientists within your network — D-Challenge 2025, an in silico competition designed to inspire novel hypotheses in T1D research.

Learn more & register here: https://thesugarscience.org/dchallenge2025/#1656723514044-68d221a3-b037

What is the D-Challenge?

The D-Challenge invites both novice and experienced scientists to mine pre-existing datasets, leverage curated bioinformatics resources, and develop bold new hypotheses for T1D. Participants will have access to high-value resources from leading consortia, including dkNET, the T1D Knowledge Portal, nPOD, PANCREATLAS, HIRN, and more.

Scientists can:

• Identify promising targets from provided datasets and resources

• Explore mechanisms, pathways, and new approaches to T1D pathogenesis

• Pitch their hypothesis to the JDRF T1D Fund and a panel of expert judges

Key Dates

• Registration Deadline: September 12, 2025 (Free to enter)

• Kick-Off Meeting: September 19, 2025

• Bootcamps & Office Hours: September – October 2025

• Model & Paper Submission: November 14, 2025

• Pitch Polish: December 5, 2025

• Finalist Pitch & Awards: December 12 & 15, 2025

Prizes

• 1st place: $5,000

• 2nd place: $3,000

• 3rd place: $2,000

Why participate?
Past participants, like 2021 winner Joaquin Reyna, emphasize the value of the open-ended, creative process:

“The beauty of this contest is it is about developing a hypothesis, and it is very open… you can change directions at any point.”

We encourage you to forward this email to relevant teams, faculty, students, and collaborators who may be interested in bringing their expertise to this collaborative, data-driven T1D challenge.

Register here by September 12th: https://thesugarscience.org/dchallenge2025/#1656723514044-68d221a3-b037