Christmas Door Decorating Contest Gingerbread House

The 16th annual NIH Gingerbread House Decorating contest had another record year with 90 entries. It was also the first time the winner announcement was broadcasted live on the National Institutes of Health's Twitter.

Created by NIH staff, the entries – 13 more than last year – ranged from current events such as the Washington Nationals Baseball World Series win to medical-related messages about ongoing research. The houses were judged by employees, patients and visitors in person with paper ballots and the Take Me There app and online via Facebook shares and likes.

A total of 2,589 in person votes were cast and online, there were 5,807 likes and shares.

For the in person voting, The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Office of Communications and Public Liaison took first place with 392 votes for their "Felis Llamidad," a gingerbread llama.

With 270 votes in person votes, The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program took second place with their creation of The Chronicles of Narnia.

And, the third place winner with 176 votes was the National Institute of Mental Health Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch for their rendition of Stranger Things.

The Facebook Favorite first place with 501 likes and shares was "Brainville" created by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Stroke Branch.

With 489 likes and shares, the second place Facebook Favorite was the Clinical Center Nursing Department's 3 SE Day Hospital with a gingerbread Nightmare before Christmas.

NIAID NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program's Narnia creation also took third place in the Facebook Favorite with 311 likes and shares.

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This gingerbread creation titled Felis Llamidad is a llama

In person ballot first place is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Office of Communications and Public Liaison.

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This is a gingerbread rendition of Narnia

In person ballot second place is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. This house also took third place in Facebook Favorites.

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This creation is the TV series

The in person ballot third place winner is the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch.

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This is a two-tiered gingerbread house with a brain sitting atop it

The Facebook Favorite first place is the Stroke Branch from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

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This is

The Facebook Favorite second place is the 3 SE Day Hospital from the Clinical Center Nursing Department.

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NIH Social Media team livestreams the winners on Twitter

The NIH Social Media team livestreams the announcement for the winners of the 16th annual NIH Gingerbread House Contest on the NIH Twitter for the first time.

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- Cindy Fisher