---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Balderston, Beth <bbalderston@path.org> Date: Mon, Mar 19, 2012 at 4:22 PM Subject: Gates Foundation calls for new innovations to optimize immunization systems To: "nixdell@cs.washington.edu" <nixdell@cs.washington.edu> Hi Nicky, Could you post the announcement to the Change list serv? People should direct questions to GCEhelp@gatesfoundation.org (linked below). Many thanks!!**** ** ** Beth Balderston**** Communications Associate**** Reproductive Health Global Program**** PATH**** ** ** Mail: PO Box 900922 | Seattle, WA 98109, USA | FAX 206.285.6619 **** Street: 2201 Westlake Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98121 | TEL 206.285.3500 x4888 **** www.path.org/cervicalcancer | www.rho.org**** ** ** =====**** ** ** WHAT WOULD YOU PROVE WITH $100,000?**** ** ** Gates Foundation calls for new innovations to optimize immunization systems* *** ** ** The Grand Challenges Explorations program is seeking bold ideas from innovative thinkers by offering US$100,000 grants to prove the potential of new approaches to optimize immunization systems. With new life-saving vaccines being introduced in immunization programs around the world, new ideas are needed urgently to ensure that the systems trusted with delivering these products are up to the task.**** ** ** Your unique ideas and innovative thinking are encouraged!**** ** ** Great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. Launched in 2008, Grand Challenges Explorations grants have already been awarded to 602 researchers from 44 countries.**** ** ** Whether you are an engineer, public health specialist, entrepreneur, or student working in a nongovernmental organization, ministry of health, university, or company—you are invited to submit your idea in two pages or less. You could be the next recipient of US$100,000 to prove your idea and have the opportunity to receive additional funding up to $1 million if your project is successful.**** ** ** 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.**** ** ** Launched by the Bill & Melinda 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.**** ** ** The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2012. For further information about the topic areas and application guidelines, please visit the web pages linked below or contact: GCEhelp@gatesfoundation.org.**** ** ** More information**** ** ** Call for proposals: Design New Approaches to Optimize Immunization Systems ( http://tinyurl.com/immunizationsystems)**** Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations website ( http://www.grandchallenges.org/vxf)**** Project Optimize (http://www.path.org/projects/project-optimize.php)****