Day 19: Grand Challenges Explorations

I'm not feeling too well today, so maybe that is why an entry about the advancements in health research sounds so appealing. 

There are numerous brilliant-minded men and women, scientists, biologists, epidemiologists, doctors, nurses, public health professionals, and more I'm sure, that are dedicating their lives to solving health epidemics.  The research will be a continual need, as there are so many health concerns affecting people worldwide.   The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one organization that encourages novel and experimental thinking, by supplying grants to universities and research agencies in order to fund their work.  "Unorthodox thinking is essential to overcoming the most persistent challenges in global health...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."  Initial grants are awarded to ideas thought to have promise, and are given $100,000 to start.  A second $1 million grant is awarded to those research projects that have demonstrated initial success with their research project. 

Just recently, nine Grand Challenges Explorations projects received additional funding.  Projects have included improving the effectiveness of vaccinations, reducing drug-resistance mechanisms, developing an infrared light to distract malaria mosquitoes from reaching their target, cutting the DNA sequence of HIV to eliminate it's chance to turn into full-blown AIDS, and improving patient's response to malaria medications by disabling malaria's ability to rapidly mutate.  Holy cow, you can do that??  What an amazing thing, knowing that there are smart men and women researching and getting closer and closer to eradicating some of the most rampant and deadly diseases out there.  

If you are brilliant and/or have an idea that you think could be research worthy, the next deadline for initial funding is November 2.  Who knows, maybe you could have a mind-blowing idea that may save lives.


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