Gates Foundation Invests in Chewing Gum, Noses, and Exercise To Improve Global Health

by Mike Smith · 2009-10-22 16:44:00 UTC
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Bill & Melinda Gates are continuing to put their huge wealth to good use with their foundation's announcement of 76 grants of $100,000 each to fund ground-breaking and outside-the-box global health research. The $7.6 million in grants is the third time they've awarded money as part of their "Grand Challenges Exploration." The money will be spread through 16 countries and five continents.

The actual projects involve everything from chewing gum that can help detect malaria through saliva, a study into how a brief bout of exercise may enhance the effiency of a pneumococcal vaccine, and an electric nose to diagnose tubercolis. The hope is that pursuing bold and innovative research could lead to substantial breakthroughs in HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia and diarrheal diseases. Dr. Tachi Yamada, president of the Gates Foundation’s Global Health Program explains that “Grand Challenges Explorations will continue to fill the pipeline with possibilities and hopefully produce a breakthrough idea that could save untold numbers of lives.”

Photo credit: Maverik2003

Mike Smith
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