盖茨基金“探索大挑战”新项目启动 11月截止申请

　　

生物通报道，比尔及梅琳达.盖茨基金会自2008年开始“探索大挑战”资助计划，在这个项目的第二年，第二轮的探索大挑战计划开始接受新项目的申请，项目将赞助拥有大胆创新思想甚至是非正统思想的创新研究项目。

 

“探索大挑战”活动为期五年，每年两轮，资助总额达一亿美元。它属于盖茨基金会支持的“全球健康大挑战”计划的一部分，旨在鼓励研究人员尝试有可能改善全球健康面貌的创新方案，从而推动全球健康研发领域的创新。

 

首轮（2008年）接受探索大挑战的研究项目主要集中在传染病研究领域，如HIV，疟疾和结核病。

 

今年，探索大挑战项目新开一个领域的资助计划，那就是：避孕。该项目的主要目的是开发创新技术来避免意外妊娠。据盖茨基金网站简介文字表示：希望科学家开发出不同常规的、大胆的、有创意的避孕新技术。让人类可更自由的掌握人生的自由权。

 

据介绍，可能参加申请的包括有：阻止排卵的避孕技术、阻止精子传递的避孕技术以及利用免疫学的避孕方式。

 

与先前的挑战资助计划一样，成功申请者在第一年可获得10万美金的启动资金，在第二年经过评审后，如果具有巨大的潜力将获得余下的百万美金。

 

新项目的申请者可在11月2号前递交申请，明年5月将公布获奖名单。

（生物通 小茜）

生物通推荐原文阅读

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is taking applications for a new round of funding under its Grand Challenges Explorations grant program. The program, in its second year, aims to fund research that tackles developing world problems using innovative technologies and "unorthodox ideas."

 

Since last fall, three rounds of grants have mainly funded research on infectious diseases, such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, but this fourth round of funding adds a new subject area: contraception.

 

"The goal of this topic is to solicit novel and innovative approaches to preventing unintended pregnancy," reads the Gates Foundation website. "We seek proposals that are 'off the beaten track,' daring in premise, and clearly different from the approaches currently being developed or employed. Overall, increasing contraceptive uptake will not only require increased supply in the developing world but a larger range of choices for women and men so that their specific needs can be met in an appropriate, safe, culturally sensitive and cost-effective manner."

 

Examples of projects the foundation may consider include novel methods that work after ovulation, that interfere with sperm delivery, or that rely on immunology, among others.

 

As before, successful applicants get $100,000 to start their projects, with the potential for an additional $1 million or more in funding if the project shows promise after one year.

 

Applications for the new grants must be in to the foundation before November 2, and winners will be announced next May.