*       Support paradigm-changing ideas that have never before been tested, and that might not stand up to traditional peer review
       
       
*       Involve scientists from a wide range of disciplines, as well as young investigators
       
       
*       Involve scientists from around the world, including innovators in the developing world and the private sector

The initiative is an expansion of the foundation's commitment to the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative, which since its creation in 2003 has made important progress in accelerating the discovery of new technologies to improve global health.

FAST-TRACK GRANTS

To make it as easy as possible for scientists to apply, the Explorations initiative will use a new fast-track grantmaking approach that complements the foundation's traditional grantmaking process:

*       Applicants for Explorations grants will be asked to submit relatively short funding proposals. Applicants will not necessarily be required to show preliminary data.
       
       
*       Proposals will be reviewed within approximately three months
       
       
*       Grants will be solicited and awarded multiple times per year
       
       
*       Each funding round will address a few specific topics or themes

GETTING INVOLVED

The first call for proposals will be posted on the Grand Challenges in Global Health website – www.gcgh.org – in early 2008, along with the list of topics being addressed and application instructions. You can sign up now at www.gcgh.org to receive email updates on the initiative.