Part science fair, part collaborative research sprint—and entirely focused on moving MS science forward.
Launching fall 2026
ACP
DATA
CHALLENGE PILOT
What could you discover with 25 years of MS data at your fingertips?
The research model that has accelerated discovery in Alzheimer's, cancer, and diabetes has never been applied to MS. Until now.
About the event
The ACP Data Challenge Pilot brings multidisciplinary teams together for intensive, hands-on access to one of the most comprehensive MS datasets in existence, with the goal of generating new discoveries faster than traditional research allows.
About the ACP Data Challenge Pilot
What it is, why it matters, and how to get involved.
The challenge
Think of it as part science fair, part collaborative research sprint, and entirely focused on moving MS science forward. Mentorship and subject-matter expert access are built into the program, and findings will be shared with the broader research community through a post-event white paper.
Why this event matters
ACP has spent more than two decades building the infrastructure for this kind of research: a biosample repository, a returned multi-omics data resource, and iConquerMS, a research network governed by the people most invested in finding answers. The ACP Data Challenge Pilot brings that infrastructure to the scientific community in a bold new way.
We expect this event to generate new hypotheses, surface novel computational approaches, and catalyze collaborations that outlast the challenge itself. And we’re building it to grow: each edition will deepen the datasets, broaden the community, and sharpen the science.
Who participates
The challenge is open to multidisciplinary teams including computational biologists, MS neurologists, data scientists, early-career investigators, trainees, and people living with MS who want to engage directly in the science. Mentorship and subject-matter expert access are built into the program.
Support the ACP Data Challenge Pilot
This event runs on community investment. Sponsorships and individual gifts fund platform compute costs, participant scholarships for early-career teams, expert honoraria, and the post-event white paper that gets findings into researchers’ hands.
You don’t have to be a scientist to be part of this. A gift at any level helps make this first event possible and helps us build toward an annual ACP Data Challenge that grows more impactful every year. The people who support this pilot are the reason it exists.
Become a founding sponsor
Organizations that sponsor the ACP Data Challenge Pilot gain visibility with MS researchers worldwide, early access to cutting-edge analyses, and a direct role in shaping how this event evolves year over year. Sponsorship opportunities start at $5,000 and include recognition across all event materials, access to final findings and the post-event white paper, and opportunities to engage directly with participating teams and ACP leadership. Premier presenting sponsorship is available at $50,000 and is exclusive.
Explore sponsorship opportunitiesHelp launch something new in MS research.
Support the ACP Data Challenge Pilot and help us build toward an annual event that gets more powerful every year.