75K $ in cash prize (spilit over two phases)  CHALLENGE STATEMENTS

1) Artificial Intelligence + Dermatology: How can AI be deployed into a dermatological tool that is accessible and practical patient?
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2) Measurement and Evaluation of Chronic Diseases: How can precision medicine principles and data be applied to help clinicians and researchers better understand chronic skin conditions and to detect flares?

3) Gap Between Symptoms, Diagnosis + Treatment: How can the time from diagnosis to treatment be shortened and simplified? How can continuous care for these patients be better coordinated?

4) High Treatment Costs to Patients + Health Systems: How can medication costs be lowered while simultaneously optimizing treatments?
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5) Topical Delivery of Medications: What technologies and delivery systems can be improved or designed to encourage adherence of topical medications?

PROCESS IN DETAIL

Step 1: Frame
When/Where: April 7th, 2018 at the Cambridge Innovation Center, Cambridge, MA
Hacking Dermatology Innovation Summit

Step 2: Hack
When/Where: June 8th-10th, 2018 Cambridge, MA
How: The experts are invited to be mentors and the top challenge areas are presented to hackathon participants. Teams of hackers, coming from diverse scientific, business, and other backgrounds, formulate solution driven projects in response to the challenge areas. At the end of this 3-day event, teams present proposals to a panel of judges. The top 5 teams are awarded seed funding to continue working on their ideas.​

Step 3: Incubate
When/Where: July – September 2018 at Virtual + Cambridge, MA
How: The top 5 teams will have three months to polish their ideas and develop serious proposals.During this period they will be supported by mentorship and resources as needed. They will also have access to HMi’s network of professional services and innovation experts. After this incubation period, the teams will present their flushed out proposals to a pa

Step 4: Extend
When: October 2018 – February 2019
How: The top 3 teams will be entered into HMi’s extended incubation program, in which they will receive additional mentorship and access to scientific and startup resources. As part of this program, HMi requires teams to submit frequent reports on progress. This creates an environment of support and proactiveness and ensures that teams maintain momentum and achieve goals.

Step 5: To Market
When: March 2019 and beyond
How: As ideas and projects mature, HMi will guide teams from research to commercialization. This departure point may lead teams to enter external accelerators. Other teams may be connected to investors and other resources for early stage companies.​