The Aetna Foundation www.aetnafoundation.org recently announced their “Healthier World Innovation Challenge”, a $4.5 million initiative designed to steer digital health innovation to improve chronic health outcomes in underserved communities.
Six Challenge winners will not only receive up to $750,000 each over three consecutive years, but will also have support from the Aetna Foundation and partner resources to implement their innovation.
The Challenge is part of a larger, three-year digital health commitment by the Aetna Foundation to help address public health concerns. With the addition of the Challenge, the Foundation’s commitment to digital health will now total $5.7 million between 2014 and 2016.
All non-profit and community organization with 501(c)(3) status and state and local government agencies are eligible to enter the Healthier World Innovation Challenge. Letters of inquiry must be submitted between January 5 and February 2015. Organizations selected to submit a full proposal will be notified on March 20.
All organizations must meet strong evidence-based criteria to include sustainable projects that can demonstrate scalability, projects that have the potential for positive societal impact, digital health programs that leverage available evidence such as population health data or healthcare data, and digital health support built on a strong foundation of behavioral or applicable theory and grounded in research.
“We’ve seen the difference health technology can make among individuals and communities. It’s a proven way to build healthier communities and empower people to take charge of their own health,” said Garth Graham, MD, President of the Aetna Foundation.
The Aetna Foundation Inc., is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed more than $445 million in grants and sponsorships.