Australian scientists win funds for new research

May 11 2009

One bold idea - that's all it takes - such is the creed of a bold initiative fostered by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and once again Bill Gates is putting his hand in his pocket for the good of mankind.

The Foundation through the "Grand Challenges Explorations" is encouraging innovation in global health research by earmarking $100 million for scientists worldwide to expand the 'pipeline of ideas' to fight the world's greatest health challenges.

Launched in 2008, Grand Challenge Explorations calls for unorthodox thinking to overcoming the most persistent challenges in global health and grants have already been awarded to more than 180 researchers from 29 countries and Australian scientists have not lagged behind in their attempts to access some of this money to further their research.

The results of the second round were announced last week and the 81 selected came from more than 3,000 proposals.

Applications came from all levels of scientists - from veteran researchers to young post-graduate investigators - and from a range of disciplines, such as neurobiology, immunology, and polymer science - and from scientists abased at universities, research institutes, nonprofit organizations, and private companies in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Grand Challenges Explorations is a five-year $100 million initiative to promote innovation in global health aimed at achieving major breakthroughs in global health and Australian scientists have been given a piece of the cake.

They include Roy Robins-Browne, from the University of Melbourne for research into new vaccines for diarrhea, HIV, malaria, pneumonia, and TB.

Louis Schofield from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for research into the development of a synthetic anti-toxic vaccine for malaria produced by the malaria parasite that is a major determinant in the severity and fatality of the disease.

Paul Young, from the University of Queensland for research into new ways to protect against mosquito transmitted pathogens such as dengue and malaria.

Fasséli Coulibaly of Monash University in Australia for research into designing a new vaccine platform based on protein micro-crystals produced by insect viruses.

Grand Challenges Explorations is a unique initiative that supports innovative research of unorthodox ideas and is designed to swiftly award funding to scientists who are testing unproven ideas that could lead to breakthroughs in global health.