The MSK Innovation Hub Challenge (MSK iHub Challenge) was launched in 2024 as an expansion of MSK’s successful MSK Innovation Hub program—a digital health accelerator program which unites clinicians, researchers, and health care technology developers to create solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of cancer and have a positive impact on patients’ lives.

In twice-yearly sessions, the MSK iHub Challenge will welcome a cohort of digital healthcare companies who share a common focus on a strategic theme that has been identified by MSK’s clinical and digital health experts as an area of need and opportunity within the global healthcare sector. The goal is to help jumpstart digital health innovation aimed at achieving transformative results.

The Value Proposition for Digital Health Innovators

The MSK iHub Challenge program offers an exception combination of benefits for digital healthcare organizations who want to work with us on improving healthcare delivery, clinical research, and other aspects of patient care.  The benefits include: 

• Unique access to MSK digital healthcare mentorship and resources;
• Direct feedback and insights from MSK experts—in real-time, as Challenge participants work to refine and enhance digital healthcare solutions;
• Collaboration opportunities with MSK professionals, culminating for select participants in the potential to develop and advance project proposals within our institution;
• No charge—MSK offers this program to participating companies for free, fostering an environment that focuses solely on innovation and collaboration.
• Long-term potential: Exceptional teams and projects will be considered for further resources and support through full-scale participation in the MSK Innovation Hub or other collaborative opportunities.

Program Overview

Duration: Each cohort session will last for three months.  Challenge participants who are invited to join the MSK Innovation Hub will typically next go on to collaborate with MSK for a 1-to-2 year term.

Cost:The MSK iHub Challenge program is free for participating companies. There are no fees or equity requirements for participation, but companies are expected to be fully engaged in programming and cover their own expenses throughout participation.

Focused Themes: Each cohort addresses a critical area within cancer care. The focus for our upcoming Cohort Session (4Q 2024) is on Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT).

In this context, we are looking for innovative companies making meaningful impacts in enabling clinical trials to take place closer to where patients are, including where they live and/or work. Companies can interpret this theme expansively to include tools, processes, and resources that reduce patient, clinical, and operational burden and overcome barriers to accessing and running decentralized clinical trials in a hybrid, virtual, or digitized model.

Solutions can span various components of clinical trials, including, but not limited to:

• Set-up, such as remote site set-up and activation
• Patient enrollment, such as patient recruitment and consent
• Logistics, such as remote site management
• Communication infrastructure, data management and direct-to-patient clinical supply
• Trial retention, adherence and monitoring, such as technologies that support medication administering, wearable technologies, and patient reported outcomes
• Digital health solutions that increase access and reduce barriers for underrepresented populations in clinical trials
• Other: DTC solutions outside of these specific use cases also will be considered for the program.

Expert Collaboration and Support: Participants will receive direct mentoring from top MSK experts and access a wealth of institutional knowledge and resources. This includes One-on-One Office Hours, Deep-Dive Workshops, Personalized Mentorship and more.

Networking: Build meaningful relationships with MSK stakeholders who can champion your solution internally.

Demo Day: Each Cohort session culminates in a Demo Day, providing program participants with the opportunity to showcase their solutions to MSK decision makers and external leaders in cancer care and digital health—broadening their exposure within and beyond MSK.