---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Little, Joseph <jlittle@path.org> Date: Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 20:32 Subject: New funding opportunity: innovation to strengthen immunization system To: Dear colleague, Apologies if you have already received this message. The last round of the Grand Challenge Explorations grant program for immunization supply systems received nearly 300 applications from over 50 countries. Unfortunately not all of them could be funded. The winners will be announced in early May. We have great news that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has launched a new call for proposals which will run until May 15. Launched by the Gates Foundation, this call builds on work facilitated by Project Optimize—a joint World Health Organization and PATH project—to develop a common vision for the future of immunization supply systems and logistics. I am seeking your help to share the attached announcement with your networks and colleagues. In order to help ensure all applications are as successful as possible, I have also attached a brief “tips and tricks” document that we encourage you to share. This initiative seeks new ideas to ensure that immunization systems trusted with delivering life-saving vaccines are up to the task. Grants of US$100,000 grants will be given to demonstrate new approaches and ideas that have never been tried in immunization. All applicants need to do is submit a two-page proposal outlining why their idea is innovative, how they will prove it, and the impact it will have. Priority areas for funding include: · Vaccine product characteristics. · Supply system design. · Environmental impact. · Information systems. · Human resources. · Vaccination acceptance. Ideal proposals should be responsive to the topic area, daring in premise, and clearly different from the approaches currently under investigation or employed. Solutions should focus on the operational aspects of immunization systems and must have the potential to be scaled up or reproduced in multiple low resource settings. The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2012. For further information about the immunization topic area and application guidelines, please visit the Grand Challenges Explorations website (http://tinyurl.com/immunizationsystems). You may also email GCEhelp@gatesfoundation.org. Thank you again for your support! Best regards, Joe Little Program Assistant