US: Gates accepting proposals for bold research

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced that it is now accepting grant proposals for the second round of Grand Challenges Explorations, a five-year US$100 million initiative to encourage "bold and unconventional research" on new global health solutions.

According to a news release, proposals for six topics will be accepted until 2 November 2008. The initiative's first funding round, which closed in May, generated nearly 4,000 applications from scientists in more than 100 countries.

"One of the primary objectives of Grand Challenges Explorations is to involve scientists around the world who do not typically work in global health," according to the release. "This includes those with innovative ideas in Africa, Asia, and other parts of the developing world; people working in the private sector; and young investigators."
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