The Undiagnosed Hackathon

350 million People Living With an Undiagnosed Disease PLWUD worldwide. 75% of them are children. 

Genome sequencing can provide answers for 40 % of children and adults with undiagnosed diseases, but around 60 % still don't receive a diagnosis. Wilhelm Foundation believes that there are far too many, who do not receive a diagnosis.

We need to do more... Because as long as a child or adult with an undiagnosed disease does not receive a diagnosis, there is a risk of irreversible damage and in the worst case it can lead to death.

The purpose of the Undiagnosed Hackathon is trying to find new ways and collaborations to solve the undiagnosed diseases, that can’t be solved today.

Logo of the Undiagnosed Hackathon featuring a coat of arms with four dinosaur icons inside a shield, flanked by a lion on the left and a unicorn on the right. Above the shield is a smiling face beneath a stylized satellite dish, and behind the emblem are planets, stars, and orbit-like lines suggesting exploration. Below the shield is a banner reading "Undiagnosed Hackathon," with a green awareness ribbon looped behind it.

The 2025 Undiagnosed Hackathon

We invite you to apply to be a collaborator at the 2025 Undiagnosed Hackathon, hosted by the Wilhelm Foundation in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. This year’s event will take place September 21–23, 2025, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

The Hackathon's main activities will occur September 22–23, preceded by pre-event activities and a Welcome Dinner on September 21, and followed by a Rare Disease Symposium on September 24.

In 2025, we aim to analyze data from 30 participants with the goal of uncovering diagnoses where none have yet been found. Collaborators will work closely with detailed clinical records, advanced genomic and transcriptomic data, and cutting-edge phenotyping tools to investigate each participant’s case.

This unique event unites a global community of clinicians, bioinformaticians, molecular biologists, scientists, developers, AI specialists, and more—all focused on solving the most complex undiagnosed medical mysteries. As a collaborator, you will play a vital role in this effort and may be asked to serve as a participant representative, presenting clinical histories and advocating on behalf of participants.

The event is free to attend, and meals will be provided. Please note: collaborators are responsible for their own travel and lodging, though financial assistance may be available upon request.

We will also host a virtual pre-event workshop to introduce the tools, technologies, and data sets available during the Hackathon. Full event logistics will be shared with selected collaborators.

Visit the official Undiagnosed Hackathon website here

Apply as soon as possible

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, and no later than May 23, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with final selections made by June 15, 2025. You will be notified via email regarding the outcome of your application.

Apply here

The second Undiagnosed Hackathon 2024

Wilhelm Foundation and the Radboud University Medical Center organized the Second global Undiagnosed Hackathon June 6-8, 2024 at the Radboud umc in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Click on the picture and the film about Undiagnosed Hackathon 2024 will start or click here 

Group photo where approximately 150 adults are standing on a large staircase. At the front, there are adults and a few children.

 

The first Undiagnosed Hackathon 2023

Wilhelm Foundation together with Prof. Ann Nordgren, Karolinska-UDP, Karolinska Hospital/Institute and CEO Orion Buske, PhenoTips, Canada arranged the world's first Undiagnosed Hackathon 2023. The Undiagnosed Hackathon took place at Karolinska Institute and Karolinska hospital, Stockholm Sweden.

Click on the picture and the film about Undiagnosed Hackathon 2023 will start or click here 

Group photo with 100 adults and in front children and their families wearing blue T-shirt "I know a Hero".

More about Undiagnosed Hackathon 2023

German Demidov was one of the participants at the Undiagnosed Hackathon 2023. Please, read his article. Undiagnosed Hackathon 2023: Moving the Borders of Rare Disease Genetic Diagnostics  

Karolinska Hospital's article about the Undiagnosed Hackathon International expert group cracked the code to unsolved diagnoses 

Please, visit Undiagnosed Hackathon's official Website

Interested in partnering or sponsoring the Undiagnosed Hackathon? Please, contact info@wilhelmfoundation.org