In the sixth round of Grand Challenges Explorations, projects were invited that targeted the following topics: protection against infectious diseases, new contraceptive technologies, curing HIV infection, low-cost cell phone applications for global health, eradicating poliovirus, new technologies to improve maternal and infant health, and next generation sanitation technologies.
The addition of a global development project – sanitation technologies -- highlights the integrated approach the foundation takes toward health in developing countries. Improved sanitation is essential to reducing water-borne illnesses and has profound economic, educational, and social benefits.