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Grand Challenges

Grand Challenges — Ultralow-Cost Diagnostics and Screening for Low-Income Countries

Funds global teams developing diagnostic devices and screening tools that cost approximately $1 per test or near-zero incremental cost per person screened for deployment in low-income countries.

ClosedGates FoundationGlobal

This Grand Challenge is run by the Gates Foundation under its Grand Challenges grant program. It funds development of diagnostic devices and consumable test kits that amortize capital to near-zero cost per screening event or hit approximately $1 per test — a step-change below the cost of current LMIC diagnostics. Awards range from $300,000 (proof-of-concept, up to 24 months) to $1,000,000 (mature …

Ultralow-cost diagnostics for TB, HIV, malaria, STIs, maternal/newborn health, anemia, nutrition surveillance, enteric diseases, neglected tropical diseases, emerging pathogens, and diagnostic manufacturing innovations. Novel sensing modalities, software-defined diagnostics, AI-enabled and software-only approaches, and cross-sector platform technologies.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.17 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.1–36 months
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.-

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Supports teams producing country-level estimates of major diarrheal diseases to inform global health planning and child health priorities.

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Grand Challenges — Breakthrough Innovations to Reduce the Cost of Severe Acute Malnutrition Treatment

Gates Foundation · United States

Funds global teams developing system-level innovations that reduce the total cost of treating severe acute malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

MedtechAI+2
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Grand Challenges — Cost-Reducing Innovations for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food

Gates Foundation · United States

Funds global teams developing innovations in protein, lipids, packaging, and manufacturing that reduce the ex-factory unit cost of ready-to-use therapeutic food by at least 30%.

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$1.5M
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Grand Challenges — Placental and Gut Inflammation Interventions for Fetal Growth

Gates Foundation · United States

Funds global teams developing drug, biologic, dietary, or microbiome-based interventions that target placental and gut inflammatory pathways to improve fetal growth outcomes in low-income countries.

BiotechMedtech+1
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Innovations in Low-Cost and Simplified Pathogen Sequencing Workflows

Gates Foundation · United States

Funds research teams building low-cost, simplified pathogen-sequencing workflows that bring the cost of sequencing a sample down to about US$1-10 for use in low- and middle-income countries.

Biotech
$300K – $800K