Gates Foundation logo
Program

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.

Gates FoundationGlobalGrant

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

AgritechAIBiotechFood TechHardwareIoT & EdgeAdvanced ManufacturingAdvanced MaterialsMedtechPhotonicsSynthetic Biology

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.

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

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.

pool
Grand Challenges — Micronutrient Absorption Barriers in Fortified Foods
Closed

Funds global teams researching novel approaches to overcome infection, inflammation, and microbiome-related barriers that reduce the effectiveness of food fortification programs.

pool
Grand Challenges — Placental and Gut Inflammation Interventions for Fetal Growth
Closed

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.

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

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

pool
Grand Challenges — Cost-Reducing Innovations for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food
Closed

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%.

pool
Grand Challenges Africa — Accelerating Innovation in Vaginal Formulations for Women's Health
Closed

Funds African-context researchers and companies developing novel vaginal drug delivery technologies and formulations that safely deliver therapeutics while supporting vaginal health.

pool
Last verified: 24 Jun 2026Source: gcgh.grandchallenges.org