Previous Winners | FAQ | 2024 Bracket
STAT MADNESS
(the “Contest”)
By participating in the Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the sponsor of the Contest, Boston Globe Life Sciences Media, LLC (“Sponsor” or “STAT”), which are binding and final on matters relating to this Contest. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. These Official Rules and the Contest are subject to modification by Sponsor at any time in its sole discretion.
1. ELIGIBILITY; NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited. Nominee submission is open to legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years or older at the time of entry and that have the authority to nominate and enter into the Contest on behalf of the respective university or college (“Nominator”). Nominees in the Contest must be a United States accredited university or college (an “Institution”) that had a paper published in a 2023 peer-reviewed journal regarding an innovative health or medicine research development made by the Institution (“Nominee”). Nominators will not receive a prize of any kind in this Contest. Sponsor and its employees, parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and their respective immediate families and household members are not eligible to enter or win. Submission of an entry constitutes Nominator and Nominee’s agreement to these Official Rules and constitutes a binding contract between Nominator, Nominee, and Sponsor.
2. TO ENTER. Limit three (3) Entries per Institution or from a single school within an Institution. To make a nomination in this Contest, Nominators may visit www.statnews.com/stat-madness-apply/ (the “Website”) and complete and submit an official registration form (“Entry”) between 12:00am Eastern Time (“ET”) on October 26, 2023 and 5:00pm ET on January 17, 2024 (the “Entry Period”). Entries must include (1) the Nominator’s name and contact information; (2) the Nominee’s name; (3) where possible, sufficient and accurate contact information within the Institution to enable verification; (4) a brief and accurate explanation written by the Nominator, originally created and in their own words, of how the innovative research development in health or medicine changes the life sciences; and (5) a lawfully-submitted .pdf link to a paper published in a peer-reviewed journal regarding such innovation.
Sponsor is not responsible and shall not be liable for late, incomplete, undelivered, or lost entries, or for network or service failures or malfunctions. Entries that are garbled in transmission, incomplete, not received, or lost shall not be taken into consideration. Duplicate Entries and Entries generated by script, macro, other automated means, or by any other means which subvert the entry process will be void. Nominators using multiple email addresses may be disqualified. The authorized account holder of the email account used to enter will be deemed to be the Nominator. Once Sponsor receives an eligible Entry, it may contact the Nominee for verification of any element of the Entry or related materials. Entries become the sole property of Sponsor. Sponsor may reject any Entry for which it cannot properly verify such information through the contact information provided in the Entry. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject, disqualify, or modify any Entries or elements or materials thereof.
3. SELECTION OF PRIZE WINNERS; NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS. Potential winners (each a “Potential Winner”) will be selected from all eligible Entries beginning on January 21, 2023 by STAT Editors appointed by Sponsor (“Judges”). Criteria for selection by Judges will be (1) the scientific rigor of the work, including the strength of the data and methods used; (2) the originality and novelty of the innovation and its methodologies; and (3) the potential beneficial impact of the innovation in its respective field, the general public, and society overall, and its potential longevity (the “Judging Criteria”). The number of Potential Winners Selected will be determined as follows:
(i) if there are at least sixty-four (64) eligible Nominees, sixty-four (64) Potential Winners will be selected;
(ii) if there are thirty-two (32) to sixty-three (63) eligible Nominees, Sponsor may elect to either cancel the Contest or select thirty-two (32) Potential Winners;
(iii) if there are sixteen (16) to thirty-one (31) eligible Nominees, Sponsor may elect either to cancel the Contest or select sixteen (16) Potential Winners; and
(iv) in the event that there are fewer than sixteen (16) eligible Nominees, Sponsor may elect to cancel the Contest or pursue an alternative procedure, in its sole discretion.
Potential Winners will be placed by Judges into first-round match-ups of the STAT Madness Bracket (the “Consumer Bracket”), made public on March 1, 2024 if there are sixty-four (64) or thirty-two (32) Potential Winners, or March 15, 2024 if there are sixteen (16) winners. In placing the first-round match-ups and determining which Potential Winners are to be paired with each other in the Consumer Bracket, Judges will rely on their experience in life sciences, health, and medicine, guided by factors such as: (1) the similarity between the research categories of the Potential Winners; (2) the size of the institutions of the Potential Winners; and (3) the geographic locations of or the existing rivalries between the Potential Winners’ Institutions.
According to a schedule to be announced following the confirmation of the number of Potential Winners (the “Schedule”), consumers will be able to access the Consumer Bracket, populated with the first-round match-ups, on www.statnews.com/stat-madness-bracket and participate in the Consumer Bracket voting rounds. During each Consumer Bracket voting round, consumers will identify their selection for the match-up winners for each bracket by applying the Judging Criteria and submit their votes to Sponsor per the instructions provided on www.statnews.com/stat-madness-bracket within the relevant timeframe. At the conclusion of each Consumer Bracket voting round, the Potential Winner that receives the most votes for their match-up will advance to the next round on the Consumer Bracket. In the event of a tie, Judges will break the tie by applying the Judging Criteria. There will be multiple rounds of Consumer Bracket voting per the Schedule until a single Consumer Bracket voting round winner remains (the “Consumer Bracket Winner”).
Consumer Bracket votes generated by script, macro, other automated means, or by any other means which subvert the Contest and its processes are prohibited. Where such actions or cheating may be suspected, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, pause the contest and open an investigation. If Sponsor determines that improper votes have been cast, such votes will be eliminated from the total number of votes for that entry within that Consumer Bracket voting round. If it is determined that a Potential Winner had a role in the casting of improper votes, such Potential Winner will be disqualified from the Contest.
In addition to the Consumer Bracket Winner determined by the Consumer Bracket, Judges will apply the Judging Criteria to choose three (3) to five (5) teams (each a “STAT Potential Winner”), which will be voted on by attendees at the STAT Breakthrough Science Summit. The STAT Potential Winner with the most votes will be the “Breakthrough Summit Pick Winner” (together with the “Consumer Bracket Winner”, each a “Winner”).
Odds to win depend on the total number of eligible Entries, the Consumer Brackets votes received, and attendee votes received through the STAT Breakthrough Science Summit.
The Winners have five business days to respond with a completed and executed Affidavit of Eligibility to notification via phone or e-mail that the they have won the Contest. If such document is not returned to Sponsor within the specified time period, prize notification is deemed as undeliverable, or a Winner is not in compliance with these Official Rules, the respective Winner’s prize will be forfeited. If a Winner is deemed ineligible, or declines or forfeits the prize, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, select an alternate Potential Winner to be a Winner. Sponsor shall have no liability for unsuccessful efforts to notify any winning entrant, or for any injuries, losses, or damages by reason of participation in the Contest or use of any Prize (as defined in Section 4), and Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction, or for any unauthorized access to any website (including Sponsor’s website), email, or other service.
4. PRIZE. The Winners will each receive a mention in an article written by STAT journalists to be published on www.statnews.com (the “Prize”), the timing of which shall be at Sponsor’s discretion, but no later than December 31, 2024, detailing the winning inventions.
The Prize is awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied, and is subject to expiration dates. Details of the Prize may change, based on availability. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute the Prize or portions thereof if the Prize cannot be awarded as described. Sponsor will determine all elements of the Prize in its sole discretion. Sponsor disclaims all and any liability for the actual provision, quality, or nature of any third-party product or service related to the Prize. Sponsor is not liable for injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising from participation in this Contest and use of the Prize. Winners must comply with any third-party terms and conditions applicable to the redemption and use of the Prize.
Winners may not substitute, assign, or transfer the Prize or redeem the Prize for cash. Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with the Prize. Winners forfeit any unused portions of the Prize. The awarding of a Prize is contingent on full compliance with these Official Rules. If a Winner is found to have violated the Official Rules or otherwise does not meet eligibility criteria, that Winner will forfeit their Prize and their Prize may be awarded to an alternate Winner, chosen in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
5. PRIVACY AND PUBLICITY. Each Winner, except where legally prohibited, consents to be photographed by or on behalf of Sponsor and permits Sponsor, its parent corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, and assigns, to use Winner’s name, likeness, photograph, Entry, and any materials Nominator or Nominee submits to Sponsor, subject to any third-party restrictions identified to Sponsor by Winner in writing, in all media, throughout the World, in perpetuity, and for any purpose (including advertising, publicity, and/or trade purposes) without notice to Winner and without further compensation. Nominators and Nominees agree that Sponsor may use Entry, entry materials, and any other personally identifiable information collected or used in connection with the Contest in accordance with the privacy policy posted on www.statnews.com/privacy/ and in combination with any such other material as Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, determine. Nominators and Nominees have no right of approval, claim to compensation, or benefits claim, including, without limitation, claims based upon invasion of privacy, defamation, or right of publicity arising out of any use of Entry or entry materials. Further, Nominators agree that Sponsor may add your email address and those of other entrants to Sponsor newsletter mailing list(s).
6. RELEASE. Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, damaged, inaccurate, stolen, delayed, misdirected, undelivered, or garbled entries or email for whatever cause or other errors whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing, or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Contest. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Website users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to participants’ or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading materials from or use of the Website. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Contest or Website or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void. Each Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend, modify, or terminate the Contest at any time and for any reason, including, but not limited to, if any portion of the Contest is, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of Entries. If terminated, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, select the Winners from among all non-suspect, eligible Entries received for the Contest prior to action taken or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor.
IN NO EVENT SHALL SPONSOR OR ITS AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS OF PROFITS, INCURRED BY NOMINATOR, NOMINEE, OR ANY THIRD PARTY, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY OR IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF SUCH DAMAGES, ARISING FROM THE CONTEST, THE PRIZE, OR THE USE OF PRIZES, EVEN IF SPONSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
By participating, Nominators and Nominees agree that Sponsor and its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and all of its officers, directors, employees, representatives, and agents (collectively, “Released Parties”) will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by Nominators or Nominees against any liability for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind, including death, to persons, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse, or use of the Entry, entry materials, the Prize, or participation in this Contest. In the event of a dispute regarding Entries received from multiple users having the same email address or account, the authorized subscriber of the email address or account at the time of entry will be deemed to be the Nominator and must comply with these Official Rules. Authorized account subscriber refers to the natural person who is assigned the email address or account by the internet service provider (ISP), online service provider, or other organization responsible for such assignment. Released Parties are not responsible for any unauthorized use of Entries by third parties.
7. GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. The Contest and these Official Rules are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (as distinguished from the choice of law rules) and the United States of America applicable to contracts made and performed entirely in Massachusetts and where the relevant contacts are with such state. Except where prohibited, as a condition of participating in this Contest, Nominators and Nominees agree that any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, the Prize, or the determination of the Winners shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. Nominators and Nominees further agree that in any cause of action, the Released Parties’ entire liability will be limited to the actual out-of-pocket cost of entering and participating in the Contest, and in no event shall the Released Parties be liable for attorneys’ fees and/or experts’ fees and costs. By entering, Nominators and Nominees waive the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages, and further waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
Sponsor will interpret these Official Rules and resolve any disputes, conflicting claims, or ambiguities concerning the Official Rules, and Sponsor’s decisions shall be final. If any provision of these Official Rules is found to be invalid by any court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these rules, which shall remain in full force and effect. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or terminate the drawing to make such other decisions regarding the administration or outcome as Sponsor deems appropriate. All decisions by Sponsor are final.
8. WINNER’S NAME. For the name of the Winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: STAT Madness Contest, Attn: Rose Montera c/o Boston Globe Life Sciences Media LLC, 1 Exchange Pl, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109. Requests for Winner names must be received no later than 60 days from the Winner selection date determined by the Schedule, as described in Paragraph 3.