The DARPA of global health, deadline is Nov. 2nd for an initial round of funding for $100,000:

One great idea is all it takes to improve the health of millions around the world. What is yours?
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is now accepting grant proposals for the Grand Challenges Explorations, a $100 million initiative to encourage bold and unconventional global health solutions.

Anyone can apply, regardless of your prior experience or institutional affiliation. Previous winners include graduate students, entrepreneurs at start-up companies, and creative thinkers from all fields of research. Proposals are currently being accepted online until November 2, 2009 on the following topics:

*Create New Ways to Protect Against Infectious Disease
*Create Low-Cost Diagnostics for Priority Global Health Conditions
*Create New Ways to Induce and Measure Mucosal Immunity
*Create New Technologies for Contraception

Initial grants will be $100,000 each, and projects showing promise will have the opportunity to receive additional funding of up to $1 million. Full descriptions of topics and application instructions are available at: http://www.grandchallenges.org/explorations.

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