http://www.grandchallenges.org/Explorations/Pages/Introduction.aspx

The deadline for completed submissions for Round 6 of Grand Challenges Explorations is November 2, 2010 at 11:30 AM PST.

Topics for Grand Challenges Explorations Round 6 are:

Design New Approaches to Cure HIV Infection;
Create the Next Generation of Sanitation Technologies;
The Poliovirus Endgame: Create Ways to Accelerate, Sustain and Monitor Eradication;
Create Low-Cost Cell Phone-Based Applications for Priority Health Conditions;
Create New Technologies to Improve the Health of Mothers and Newborns.

Rewarding Innovative Ideas in Global Health

One bold idea. That’s all it takes.

Unorthodox thinking is essential to overcoming the most persistent challenges in global health. Vaccines were first developed over 200 years ago because revolutionary thinkers took an entirely new approach to preventing disease.

Grand Challenges Explorations fosters innovation in global health research. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $100 million to encourage scientists worldwide to expand the pipeline of ideas to fight our greatest health challenges.

Launched in 2008, Grand Challenge Explorations grants have already been awarded to 340 researchers from 34 countries.

Open to All Disciplines: Anyone Can Apply

The grant program is open to anyone from any discipline, from student to tenured professor, and from any organization – colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies.

Agile, Accelerated Grant-Making

The initiative uses an agile, accelerated grant-making process with short two-page applications and no preliminary data required. Applications are submitted online, and winning grants are chosen approximately 4 months from the submission deadline.

Initial grants of $100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of up to $1 million.