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Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge is a grant competition from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and VentureWell that recognizes undergraduate excellence in biomedical design and innovation. The challenge awards $190,000 in total prizes across 14 awards, plus five $1,000 honorable mentions, for innovative solutions to unmet health and clinical problems.
Strong submissions must demonstrate analytical and design mastery and present a viable path to addressing real-world healthcare needs. The application deadline is June 5, 2026. Eligible applicants are undergraduate student teams from any discipline working on solutions to health and clinical challenges.
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DEBUT Challenge—NIBIB and VentureWell The VentureWell Accelerator E-Team Program: Pioneer and Propel VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator American-Made Solar Prize Round 8 Venture Development Framework Faculty & Staff Initiatives Ecosystem Futures Fellowship Engineering for One Planet Meet Our Faculty Grantees technology commercialization Health and Science Technology Commercialization ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub Information for Vendors and Consultants Resources for Advancing Equity Data, Evaluation, and Research Services Tools for Design & Sustainability Course Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) for Entrepreneurs Venture Development Framework Contracting Opportunities With $190,000 in prizes, the DEBUT Challenge is open to undergraduate student teams working on innovative solutions for unmet health and clinical problems.
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and VentureWell have come together to support the Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge, a competition that recognizes undergraduate excellence in biomedical design and innovation.
Strong DEBUT submissions will demonstrate a mastery of analytical and design skills and capabilities, the ability to manage the product development process, the ability to work effectively in teams, and technical communication skills.
Submissions will be judged on the following criteria: Significance of the problem being addressed Impact of proposed solution on potential users and clinical care Additional prizes will be awarded to entries that also demonstrate: Market potential and economic feasibility Watch this informational webinar from NIBIB to learn more: Fourteen DEBUT prizes and five honorable mentions will be awarded.
Prize categories and amounts are listed below. For more details about each prize, please view the “Prizes” section of the application guidelines. NIBIB-sponsored prizes include: First Prize: The Steven H.
Krosnick Prize: $20,000 HIV/AIDS Prize : $15,000 (with funds from the NIH Office of AIDS Research) Healthcare Technologies for Low-Resource Settings Prize: $15,000 (with funds from the National Institute of Minority and Health Disparities); located in the United States or U.S. territories or possessions) Technologies for Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis or Treatment Prize: $15,000 (with funds from the National Cancer Institute) Rehabilitative and Assistive Technologies Prize: $15,000 (with funds from the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Technologies to Empower Nurses in Community Settings Prize: $15,000 (with funds from the National Institute of Nursing Research) Kidney Technology Development Prize: $15,000 (with funds from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Technologies to Improve the Health of Women Prize : $15,000 (with funds from the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health) Technologies to Foster Healthy Aging Prize : $15,000 (with funds from the National Institute on Aging) Additionally, five Honorable Mentions will be awarded with prizes of $1,000 each .
All NIH prize winners will be offered commercialization training. VentureWell-sponsored prizes include: Design Excellence Prize: $5,000 Rising Star Prize : $5,000 These prizes are made possible with support from The Lemelson Foundation, in partnership with IEEE EMBS, the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), and the Council of Chairs of Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Programs. Ready to apply?
Before you begin, please read the application guidelines. Winning teams will be honored at an award ceremony during the Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society in October. All applications must be submitted online.
Questions? Please contact us at grants@venturewell. org .
Meet Our 2025 DEBUT Winners ShockSense from Johns Hopkins University won the first place Steven H. Krosnick Prize in 2025. Meet all of the 2025 winners and explore their innovations .
Winners Announced: August 25, 2026 1st Prize: The Steven H.
Krosnick Prize: $20,000 Healthcare Technologies for Low-Resource Settings Prize: $15,000 Technologies for Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis or Treatment Prize: $15,000 Rehabilitative and Assistive Technologies Prize: $15,000 Technologies to Empower Nurses in Community Settings Prize: $15,000 Kidney Technology Development Prize: $15,000 Technologies to Improve the Health of Women Prize: $15,000 Technologies to Foster Healthy Aging Prize: $15,000 Design Excellence Prize: $5,000 Rising Star Prize: $5,000 5 NIBIB Honorable Mentions: $1,000 each Meet the 2025 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2024 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2023 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2022 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2021 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2020 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2019 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2018 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2017 DEBUT Winners Meet the 2016 DEBUT Winners Five Trends To Watch in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Linking Medtech Entrepreneurs with Expertise To Address Maternity Care Deserts Powering Women’s Health Innovators and Startups 8 Podcasts We Can’t Stop Listening To Masters of Invention: What Lonnie Johnson and Franziska Trautmann Teach Us About Innovation Yes I would like receive weekly newsletters from VentureWell I'd best describe myself as a: Student Startup Faculty Member Researcher Other
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Open to undergraduate student teams working on solutions for health and clinical problems; teams may include members from any discipline. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $190,000 in total prizes across 14 awards plus five $1,000 honorable mentions Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is June 5, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.