Priority Digital Health Challenge
The Priority Digital Health Challenge was created to accelerate the development of innovative patient-centric solutions that address critical healthcare challenges. The Challenge brings together health experts, non-profits and health systems to develop impactful digital health solutions, with the support of industry-leading partners like AWS, Cogniss and Validitron.
Launched in 2024, the programme has expanded its scope in 2025 to address a wider range of pressing health issues while continuing to welcome and encourage solutions that focus on underserved populations.
The Priority Digital Health Challenge 2025 will build on last year’s success, offering opportunities for innovators to develop, test and scale impactful solutions.
About the 2024 Challenge
The inaugural edition of the Challenge, the Priority Population Digital Health Challenge 2024, focused on solutions aimed at underserved populations, tackling key health inequities through digital health solutions. Delivered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) Healthcare, Cogniss and The Validitron, the challenge attracted an incredible lineup of innovators from around the world.
Read about the winners in our press release. The two winning teams gained access to an exclusive, complimentary programme that offers guidance and support through the accelerated creation, validation and deployment of a digital health solution. This included a rapid development bootcamp, co-design and usability services, 12-month access to the Cogniss no-code platform, access to The Validitron Sandbox and services.
Both winners have successfully created and launched their digital health apps.
Challenge in media
Ruby Jackson’s app Melanatal has been making waves. Here is some recent coverage:
BBC | Article: Student creates app to improve care for black babies
Nursing Times | Article: Student midwife develops app to combat skin tone bias
Selection process
In 2024, the Challenge followed a structured selection process:
Application submission – Applicants submitted their concepts for review. Selected innovators were invited to pitch their ideas.
Pitch event– Shortlisted applicants virtually pitched their ideas to a panel of judges.
Final evaluation – Winners were chosen on the day of the pitch event, based on innovation, impact potential, feasibility and scalability.
Judging Panel
The 2024 judging panel consisted of experts in digital health, academia and technology. The panel for 2025 will be announced soon!
Dr Rowland Illing
Chief Medical Officer and Director of Global Healthcare and Non-Profits, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Matthew Howard
Head of Healthcare Data Sciences, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Leon Young
CEO & Founder of Cogniss
Professor Wendy Chapman
Director of the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, University of Melbourne
Dr Shaun Francis
Executive General Manager of Virtual Health and Clinical Informatics, Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and Board Member, Australasian Institute of Digital Health
Programme partners
We are proud to collaborate with leading industry partners who provide mentorship, resources, and technology support for challenge participants
AWS is the trusted technology and innovation partner to the global healthcare and life sciences industry, providing unmatched reliability, security, and data privacy. AWS for Healthcare & Life Sciences provides an offering of AWS services and AWS Partner solutions used by thousands of customers globally.
Cogniss is a no-code ecosystem that enables healthcare experts and organsations to create advanced patient-facing digital health apps. No coding or design skills required. Its unique point-and-click interface empowers healthcare experts and organizations to build highly customized apps, at a fraction of the time and cost required by traditional code-based development.
The Validitron is a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and research experts in digital health implementation, human factors, and evaluation. Based at state-of-the-art simulation and design facilities within Melbourne Connect – The University of Melbourne's innovation precinct.
We are actively seeking additional programme partners, including health systems, NGOs, and industry sponsors looking to support solutions in specific areas. Interested? Email us at challenge@cogniss.com.