Genetic Engineering Attribution Challenge

We’re soliciting improved and inventive solutions to a crucial problem in genetic engineering: where was this engineered?

BACKGROUND

At altLabs, we’re developing tools to identify the original source of engineered DNA. By mapping engineered systems back to their designers, we can promote responsibility and accountability without stifling innovation. In this competition, we challenge you to join us in advancing the state of the art.

THE COMPETITION

Hosted by DrivenData Inc., our data science competition consists of two exciting tracks.

In the Prediction Track, participants will compete to predict the lab-of-origin of engineered DNA sequences: prizes will go to the teams whose algorithms can achieve the highest accuracy score.

In the Innovation Track, teams will compete to convince a panel of expert judges that their models excel in domains beyond raw accuracy, in ways that move us closer to real-world applications of attribution technology.

To find out more about both tracks and enter the competition, visit our DrivenData Competition Page.

PRIZES

Both the Prediction Track and the Innovation Track will award $30,000 in prizes, for a total prize pool of $60,000. Prizes are awarded as follows:

First Place: $15,000
Second Place: $7,500
Third Place: $5,000
Fourth Place: $2,500

Visit our DrivenData Competition Page for detailed prize pool information.

GENETIC ENGINEERING ATTRIBUTION CHALLENGE TIMELINE

8/18
Prediction Track Opens

August 18, 2020 @ 8:00 UT
Prediction Track Opens for Submissions

Participants accept Terms & Conditions and download prediction track data.
Participants submit solutions – multiple submissions accepted. Live leaderboard shows place.

10/19
Prediction Track Closes

October 19, 2020 @ 23:59 UT
Prediction Track Closes

No new submissions to Prediction Track.
Top submissions invited to submit code for review.
High-scoring teams invited to submit reports to Innovation Track.

11/01
Innovation Track Submissions Due

November 01, 2020 @ 23:59 UT
Innovation Track Submissions Due

No new submissions.
Innovation Track reports reviewed by panel of expert judges.

Dec-Jan
Winners Announced!

December 2020 – January 2021
Winners Announced!

Prizes announced and winners notified.
DrivenData disburses prizes to winning teams (within 3 days of announcement).

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

Host:
DrivenData

Partners:
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
iGEM Safety and Security Program

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this even possible?

There are many different ways of doing genetic engineering, and many different choices the designer of a genetic system can make at each stage. Together, these choices produce a genetic fingerprint that allows sophisticated algorithms to identify the designer. Even in cases where a single lab-of-origin cannot be identified, GEA tools can substantially narrow the field for human decision-makers. To find out more, see Our Work.

What's a Data Science Challenge?

A data science challenge is a competition to find better solutions to a data-rich problem. Competitions are run through a host organization, which maintains a community of “solvers” looking to hone their technical and analytical problem-solving skills. Through the host’s website, solvers can view challenge information, enter to participate, access the datasets, submit solutions, and receive awards and recognition! Our host for this challenge is DrivenData.

Who can participate?

Whether you’re a data scientist, a synthetic biologist, or an interested solver from a different field, we’re calling on you to compete. The competition is open to all natural persons over the age of 18 at the time of entry. You are not eligible to receive any prize in the competition if you are a resident of a country designated by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Learn more about eligibility on the competition website.

Why is altLabs sponsoring this competition?

altLabs is dedicated to the safe and beneficial development and use of emerging technologies. Bioengineering is a rapidly expanding field of technology, which poses both major benefits and serious unintended consequences. At present, it is very difficult to know where a genetically engineered organism came from. By promoting the development of tools that increase transparency and accountability in synthetic biology, we hope to promote responsible innovation without stifling progress.

What happens to the models after competition?

The intellectual property for all prize-winning submissions will be assigned to altLabs upon receipt of prize money. After the competition, altLabs will seek input from various stakeholders – including prizewinning teams – on how best to use these results to promote responsible innovation in synthetic biology. altLabs is a non-profit organization and will never sell or otherwise monetize prize-winning submissions. The intellectual property for submissions that do not win prizes remains with their respective teams, who are both free and encouraged to develop their ideas further.

Looking for more information? View our complete competition rules.

Who is funding this?

As with altLabs’ other projects, funding for the Genetic Engineering Attribution Challenge is provided by Open Philanthropy.