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Grand Challenges is a family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems. Each initiative is an experiment in the use of challenges to focus innovation on making an impact. Individual challenges address some of the same problems, but from differing perspectives.

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Primary Prevention of Periodontal Disease in Relation to Preterm Birth in Malawi

Kjersti AagaardBaylor College of MedicineHouston, Texas, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

With this proposal, we aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of distribution of chewing gums and/or gummy bear snacks containing at least one polyol on the primary prevention of periodontal disease in association with PTB and SGA births through the rural expansion of our current established community-based health care efforts in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Low-Cost, Point-of-Care Paper-Based Microfluidic Diagnostics for Improving the Identification and Treatment of High-Risk Pregnancies in Resource-Limited Rural Settings

Patrick BeattieDiagnostics For AllCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

To improve rural health care for expecting mothers and newborns, Diagnostics For All (DFA) proposes to develop two accurate, low-cost (<$0.10) postage stamp-sized paper-based diagnostics for expecting mothers and newborns that will be used to detect - and enable proper treatment of - (i) anemia and hyper/hypoglycemia and (ii) hypertensive disorders. These point-of-care diagnostics require only a drop of blood or urine and require no additional steps beyond applying the sample. This means that they can be utilized by minimally-trained individuals in communities or clinics in rural settings to prevent unnecessary deaths during pregnancy and childbirth and improve the health of mothers and newborns through early detection of high-risk pregnancies and better patient management.

Reducing Fetal and Maternal Mortality in Developing Countries Through Simulation-Based Training for Emergency Cesarean Section

Robert BuckmanOperative Experience, Inc.Elkton, Maryland, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

Operative Experience, Inc. has pioneered unique, simulation-based methods to teach major surgical operations and currently trains military physicians and combat medics in critical trauma procedures. We propose to utilize our methods to teach healthcare providers in underserved areas to perform emergency cesarean sections. Our system is based on video demonstration of operative procedures using physical models of unprecedented anatomical and surgical accuracy. The models consist of artificial tissues that can be cut, dissected, retracted and sutured using standard surgical instruments. The trainee practices the operation on the simulator with a mentor until proficient in the techniques of the procedure.

Sustainable Access to Maternal/Newborn Services: A Market Approach

Maja CholodyPartners for DevelopmentSilver Spring, Maryland, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

Partners for Development (PFD) will develop an innovative model to ensure access to ante/postnatal and delivery care (ANC/PNC) in 25 underserved villages in northeastern Cambodia: a transportation system of private sector providers in partnership with local government. To increase demand for such transport and make the system financially sustainable, routes will include schools, markets and other popular destinations in addition to health facilities. Costs will be affordable to consumers and prices adequate for providers via set monthly amounts paid to the providers. In exchange for the monthly payment by the village, the private providers will agree to create affordable transport rates for users. Each village's cost contribution will be calculated according to the distance from its borders to the next stop on the route, reducing the otherwise high cost to the furthermost areas. Families will pay a monthly rate to its respective Village Development Council for unlimited trips, removing what is otherwise a financial disincentive to preventive care. The VDC will then pay each transporter, guaranteeing 24-hour availability. Revolving village loan funds can provide for emergency travel. Villages will: determine optimal routing; establish household fees; set loan interest rates/repayment terms; and determine how to publicize the system. PFD will measure success by: changes in ANC/PNC delivery service utilization; household subscription rates; and transporter profits. The model has replication potential globally.

E-Partogram

Shoval DekelJhpiego CorporationBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

Jhpiego and its partners (Johns Hopkins University Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design and Laerdal Global Health) propose to rapidly develop and conduct initial field-testing for an "E-Partogram", an affordable, easy-to-use, handheld electronic decision-making tool for preventing or managing complications during labor. The E-partogram could positively transform safe childbirth by enabling front-line providers to more rapidly assess and respond to labor complications and receive crucial guidance to save the lives of women and newborns.

Baby Monitor: Connecting Women and Infants to Care in Rural Settings Through Remote IVRS Screenings with New and Expectant Mothers

Eric GreenPopulation CouncilNew York, New York, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

Baby Monitor, a mobile interactive voice response system, will bring clinical assessment and referrals directly to mothers and their infants in resource-poor settings who are unlikely to access routine care. To date, mobile applications largely have been used to send patient reminders and health information or to collect patient information through intermediaries such as community health workers. Patients in developing countries have not been end-users of mobile diagnostic tools and medical record systems. If successful, this innovation could save lives, improve health outcomes, and optimize the use of extension workers in rural and remote regions where access to health systems is limited and clinical assessment often occurs too late or not at all. Baby Monitor will help mothers to assess the signs and symptoms of newborn and maternal ill-health in the weeks before and after birth. The system will assess responses to verbal screening questions, provide mothers with health information, and, when necessary, make referrals, alert healthcare providers, and dispatch appropriate healthcare workers.

Better Cord Care Saves Babies' Lives in Nepal

Leela KhanalJSIKathmandu, Nepal
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

In Nepal, despite recent efforts to increase deliveries attended by a skilled provider, fewer than 20 percent are reached with such care. Much of the population faces significant geographic barriers to care, and a large proportion of newborns are exposed to poor hygiene conditions over their first few days of life. Nearly 70 percent of infant deaths occur within the first month of life, the most common cause being infection. A trial in Nepal has shown that risk of death can be reduced by 24 percent with application of the antiseptic chlorhexidine (CHX) to the umbilical cord stump. In four pilot districts, JSI has tested and successfully shown a multi-channel distribution approach, relying primarily on a nationwide cadre of female community health volunteers (FCHV) who already provide other antenatal care (ANC) support. JSI proposes scaling up these approaches as a realistic strategy to rapidly and sustainably achieve high coverage of CHX application to the newborn cord stump, nationwide.

Feasibility and Safety of a New Simple and Low-Cost Device (Odon Device) for Assisted Vaginal Delivery

Frederik KristensenWorld Health OrganizationGeneva, Switzerland
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

The specific aim of the proposed study is to test the safety and feasibility of a new low-cost device (Odon Device: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGLLXFzULd4) to deliver the fetus during the second stage of labor. This device may be potentially safer and easier to apply than forceps/vacuum extractor for assisted deliveries, and a safe alternative to some Caesarean sections in settings with limited surgical capacity and human resource constraints. It has potential for wide application in resource poor settings even by mid-level providers. If proven safe and effective, the Odon Device will be the first innovation in operative vaginal delivery since the development of forceps centuries ago and vacuum extractor decades ago.

A Simple, Rapid Assessment Tool to Identify and Triage Preterm Infants

Anne LeeJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

Preterm birth leads to more annual neonatal deaths (1 million) than any other single cause; these deaths primarily occur in low income settings where many infants are born at home and gestational age is rarely assessed. Innovative ways to identify preterm infants in the community are needed to facilitate rapid and appropriate targeting of interventions and referral. Newborn clinical assessment by medically trained personnel allows accurate estimation of gestational age, but methods are complex and simplified methods have not been developed and validated for use by community health workers (CHWs). We have developed a simple, color-coded pictorial scorecard intended for use by CHWs to identify early preterm (<34 weeks=red zone) and late preterm (34-37 weeks= yellow zone) infants. Validation of this simple tool for use by CHWs may help reduce the large burden of newborn deaths related to prematurity.

Anti-retroviral Pouch for the Prevention of Transmission of HIV from Mother to Child During Home Birth

Robert MalkinDuke UniversityDurham, North Carolina, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

An HIV+ mother will often be reluctant to travel to a clinic the day or two after delivering her baby. She may feel too weak to travel to a clinic miles away or fear stigmatization after explaining why she must go to a clinic after delivering a healthy baby. This leaves millions of children at risk of becoming HIV+ during the birthing process. We have developed and tested in the laboratory a foilized, polyethylene pouch - something like a fast-food ketchup pouch - that can store the medication for months. If the mother is unable to make it to the hospital to deliver, she can tear open the pouch and provide the drugs to the infant, preventing her newborn from becoming HIV+.

Low-Cost Respiratory Support: Reducing Early Neonatal Death in Rural Malawi

Rebecca Richards-KortumRice UniversityHouston, Texas, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

Through a partnership between bioengineers at Rice University, pediatricians at the University of Malawi and Baylor College of Medicine, and industrial design engineers from 3rd Stone Design have designed a novel, rugged bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bCPAP) system which can be made in small volume at low-cost. This proposal will: (1) rigorously test the efficacy of this device at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi and refine it for use in rural district hospitals; (2) design a complementary training program for nurses and electromedical hospital staff; (3) engineer the bCPAP system for commercial manufacture; and (4) develop a country-wide plan to implement bCPAP at all district hospitals in Malawi. We estimate that on the African continent, where nearly one million babies die each year within a week of birth, the availability of affordable, effective bCPAP could reduce early neonatal mortality rates by as much as 30%.

Scaling-Up of Mobile Technology for Community Health (MOTECH) in Ghana

Karen RomanoGrameen FoundationAccra, Ghana
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

Grameen Foundation, in partnership with Ghana Health Service, aims to expand the successfully piloted MOTECH (Mobile Technology for Community Health) initiative to two new districts in a transition plan towards national scale-up. The program will reach approximately 14,000 pregnant women and 46,000 children under five over the two-year implementation, increasing access to accurate health information, generating increased demand for antenatal, postnatal and neonatal care, and providing detailed data on health service delivery and outcomes to Ghana Health Service. MOTECH has two interrelated mobile applications which focus on improving the health of pregnant women and infants in poor rural areas: Mobile Midwife sends targeted, time-specific, evidence-based voice messages containing important health information to pregnant women and new parents in their local language and the Nurse Application allows community health nurses to electronically record care given to patients so they can easily identify clients in their area due for critical care. If a patient misses scheduled antenatal care, the Mobile Midwife service sends a message to remind the woman to go to the clinic. If she fails to attend, her nurse is alerted via text message enabling the nurse to follow up quickly.

Development of a Low-Cost, Bubble CPAP Kit and Oxygen Blender to Increase Accessibility to Less Invasive Lung Support Equipment for Neonates in Low-Resource Settings

Gene SaxonProgram for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)Seattle, Washington, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

Dr. Ashish Jain, of Hindu Rau Hospital in Delhi, India, has developed an improvised bubble CPAP device that relies solely on an oxygen source, water, and parts commonly found in neonatal intensive care units across India. Our proposal aims to further enhance this device by combining it with an innovative oxygen blender that requires neither electricity nor a pressurized source of air and is intended to reduce the hazard associated with providing infants 100 percent oxygen. In addition, Dr. Jain's improvised bubble CPAP device will be tested for compatibility with parts commonly available in India and we will develop procurement and assembly instructions for a bubble CPAP "kit". Finally, an evaluation of human factors will be conducted in India to ensure that the kit, oxygen blender, and instructions meet the needs of health care providers and their infant patients.

ACT for Birth, Uganda (A=audit, C=cell phones, T=technology and training)

Hanifah SegendoSave the Children Federation, IncWestport, Connecticut, United States
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

This proposal involves testing an innovative fetal heart rate monitor powered by human energy (winner of the global INDEX design award) and mobile phone based mortality audit data to improve timely and appropriate action. Uganda's new national paper-based mortality audit system will be adapted to a mobile phone platform to capture maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths, and use this data to improve intrapartum monitoring and response. Facilities will collect this data and will be linked to communities using cell phones to request emergency transport and report births and deaths.

From Opposition to Champions of Maternal and Neonatal Health: A Project in Transformational Leadership Amongst Islamic Opinion Leaders in Northern Nigeria

Judith-Ann WalkerDevelopment Research and Projects Centre (dRPC)Kano, Nigeria
Grand Challenges for Development
Saving Lives at Birth
1 Jan 2011

This project confronts the barriers to maternal and neo-natal health constructed and maintained by some community and religious leaders (CRLs) in six states of Nigeria. CRLs provide the ideology, messages and personal life examples which counter the myriad maternal and neonatal health interventions in this region. Previous interventions avoided resistant CRLs, engaging only liberal scholars in one-off events such as workshops. This has failed to bring down the barriers and the death rates persist. This project targets 180 of the most conservative CRLs in 3 states in zone with the highest rates. Using an innovative multi-stage leadership development model, we will train CRLs, support them to attend a study tour in Egypt, facilitate a process by which they use internet and GSM technologies to host community dialogues with Egyptian scholars participating via video link to reinforce correct messages, and convene step-down trainings for lower level CRLs.

Low Cost, Low Power, Mobile Diagnostic Ultrasound Scanner for Affordable Healthcare During Pregnancy

Manish AroraGE India Technology Centre Private LimitedBangalore, , India
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
5 Jan 2011

Manish Arora of the GE India Technology Centre Private Limited in Bangalore, India will assess the feasibility of using new low-cost ultrasound transducers to create an affordable diagnostic ultrasound scanner for use in the developing world. Arora's prototype device will also feature a power-saving mode to save battery power, as well as wireless connectivity features that can enable telehealth solutions in remote locations.

The Pill For Men – A Male Contraceptive Development

Haim BreitbartBar-Ilan UniversityRam-Ganat, Israel
Grand Challenges Explorations
Contraceptive Technologies
11 Jan 2011

Haim Breitbart of Bar-Ilan University in Israel will design and test antisense molecules that will inactivate specific genes within sperm that are essential to the fertilization process. If successful, these antisense molecules can be used to develop a reversible oral male contraceptive.

Sewage Containment and Mineralization Device (SeCoM)

Andrew ParfittIResIShepherdstown, West Virginia, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
10 Feb 2011

Andrew Parfitt of the Institute for Residential Innovation (IResI) in the U.S. will develop a compact, stand-alone device that uses a non-microbial system of progressive reactor modules to mineralize biomass such as sewage and food waste and simultaneously generate electrical power. This system could be used in any location to provide sanitation and purified water for a potable water supply.

Develop a Simple Auger-Die Assembly That Treats Fecal Wastes

Gary FoutchOklahoma State University FoundationStillwater, Oklahoma, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
29 Mar 2011

Gary Foutch and AJ Johannes of Oklahoma State University in the U.S. propose to develop a small-scale device in which an auger forces feces and other solid wastes device through a die that results in high temperatures and pressure that dewaters the waste and destroys microorganisms. The device could reduce odor, insects, surface and ground water contamination, and the associated spread of diseases. In Phase I, they designed a laboratory-scale extruder, which is a fixed shell containing a rotating inner core driven by a motor, and an air-driven plunger to push in the material and generate pressure. They tested its performance using different operating conditions. Preliminary results revealed that their method could destroy 99 percent of parasitic worm eggs in baboon feces. In Phase II, Foutch, AJ Johannes and colleagues will develop and field test a next-generation stand-alone extruder that can effectively sanitize different types of solid sludge in the field, and is also capable of water recovery via evaporation. They will also design a sanitation module from their extruder that can be incorporated into the Omni-Ingestor technology, which is a modular system that combines sanitation with waste removal and transportation.

Reusable Self-Decontaminating Sanitary Napkin

Joe SchneiderLAAMScience, Inc.Morrisville, North Carolina, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
30 Mar 2011

Joe Schneider of LAAMScience in the U.S. will develop a reusable and self-decontaminating menstrual napkin that uses photodynamic dyes to inactivate microbial growth on the fabric. The napkin would prevent the need for expensive disposable pads and tampons while offering a hygienic alternative that self-disinfects in the absence of soap or clean water.

Using Waste To Move Waste

Mark IllianNature Healing NatureHouston, Texas, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
30 Mar 2011

Mark Illian of Nature Healing Nature in the U.S. will work with villagers in rural Africa to design a pour-flush latrine utilizing readily available urine instead of scarce water for flushing, and drops of used cooking oil for odor control. Achieving a successful design of these latrines could stimulate more latrine building to reduce open defecation and resulting diarrheal diseases.

Prototype Microflush- Biofil Toilet Facilities

Stephen MeccaGhana Sustainable Aid ProjectJamestown, Rhode Island, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
30 Mar 2011

Mumtaz Arthur and colleagues of Biofilcom Ltd. in Ghana will develop and field test a prototype toilet facility that incorporates an aerobic digester to decompose waste along with a low-cost microflush valve that uses minimal amounts of wastewater from the washbasins to improve sanitation and user experience. The field tests will help assess and refine cultural, sanitation, and financial aspects of these community facilities. In Phase I, Stephen Mecca of Ghana Sustainable Aid Project in the U.S., along with partners in Ghana, installed and evaluated the performance of three prototypes in Ghana: a 9-stall public toilet, a 3- to 5-stall school toilet, and a 1- to 2-stall family toilet. They demonstrated that the toilet system was effective at removing odors, and isolating and digesting waste, with low associated costs. They also conducted a field survey to evaluate sanitation habits, health and impacts on potential users, and researched ways to improve some of the associated subsystems such as harvesting rainwater for use in the washbasins. In Phase II, Mumtaz Arthur of Biofilcom Ltd. in Ghana will scale up field-testing to an entire village by installing 400 stalls, further research the digestion process, and work to produce a next generation low-cost prototype for local manufacturing, supply, and easy assembly.

Using Cocopeat for Treating Septic Tank Effluent

David RobbinsResearch Triangle InstituteResearch Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
30 Mar 2011

David Robbins of RTI International in the U.S. will test a septic tank biofilter made from cocopeat, which is a readily available byproduct of coconut processing, for its ability to decompose human waste and produce effluent that can be used for crop fertilization and irrigation. If successful, the cocopeat biofilter could be produced locally and aid in solid waste treatment and water conservation efforts.

A Low-Cost Decentralized Sanitary System

Bin FanResearch Center for Eco-environmental Sciences (RCEES), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); and Chinese Committee for SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment)Beijing, China
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
31 Mar 2011

Bin Fan of the Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences in China seeks to develop a decentralized sanitation system which uses a low-cost waterless, vacuum system to collect excrement and kitchen waste. The combined waste can then be processed into organic fertilizer.

Ecological Sanitation for the Base of the Pyramid

Elmer SayreWater, Agroforestry, Nutrition and Development Foundation, IncorporatedCagayan de Oro, Philippines
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
31 Mar 2011

Elmer Sayre of the WAND Foundation in the Philippines will explore how to close the loop between sanitation, health and food consumption by testing low-cost dry toilets appropriate for most conditions and using the human waste in small-scale agriculture efforts. Results and best practices will then be shared for future scale-up of the project.

The Lotus Throne: A Self-Cleaning Solution to Sanitation

Kin-Ping WongRetina Pharma IncHayward, California, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
1 Apr 2011

Kin-Ping Wong of Retina Pharma, Inc. in the U.S. proposes to test UV-resistant super-water-repellent silica as a coating for toilets, which could reduce the amount of water needed to clean the toilets after use and improve the surface sanitation of the toilets. The silica coating displays the same very high water repellency as the leaves of the lotus flower.

The Earth Auger Toilet: Innovation in Waterless Sanitation

Marcos FioravantiFundación In TerrisGuayaquil, Ecuador
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
4 Apr 2011

Marcos Fioravanti and Chris Canaday of Fundación In Terris in Ecuador will develop an easy-to-use urine-diverting dry toilet that uses a pedal to "flush" feces into a pipe and mix the waste with dry material for faster composting. Following toilet use, pushing the pedal turns an auger in the pipe, withdrawing the waste to eliminate odors and to enable safe sanitation, after which it can be used as fertilizer. In Phase I, they designed, built and laboratory-tested three prototypes with varying designs. The two best designs, one for home use and one for public use, were field tested in Ecuador to evaluate performance and usability. In Phase II, Fioravanti, now working with co-investigator Chuck Henry, will further refine the design through feedback from the field, and test modified prototypes with a view to conduct large-scale local demonstrations across different continents to promote user acceptance. They will also look to scale-up manufacturing to low-cost mass production.

Using Senecio lyratipartitus Extract After Anal Ablution

Asafu MaradufuUniversity of Eastern Africa, BaratonEldoret, Kenya
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
4 Apr 2011

Asafu Maradufu of the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton in Kenya proposes to produce a gel-based disinfectant from plant extracts of Senecio lyratipartitus which can be applied to hands. This disinfectant will reduce contamination associated with the practice of anal ablution among certain communities.

An Energy-Producing Waterless Toilet System

Virginia GardinerLoowatt Ltd.London, United Kingdom
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
4 Apr 2011

Virginia Gardiner of Loowatt Ltd. in the United Kingdom will develop a waterless toilet that uses biodegradable film to safely separate and seal waste into a portable cartridge for local anaerobic digestion. The digester will produce fuel (biogas) and fertilizer, creating local waste treatment economies. In Phase I Gardiner performed market research in Madagascar to adapt the basic toilet system to local contexts and to develop a business model. She further developed the toilet, digester, and post-treatment system, and built a pilot system that was tested using human waste in the laboratory. In Phase II, Loowatt looks to scale-up their technology and tools for the global market by further developing the anaerobic digester, readying toilet components for mass production and local manufacture and supply, and exploring local manufacturing possibilities for the biodegradable film.

High Efficiency, Sanitary Toilet with Sewage Treatment

Peter DreherLivvon LLCWest Chester, Ohio, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
4 Apr 2011

Peter Dreher of Livvon LLC in the U.S. is developing a simple, low-cost toilet for resource-poor settings that uses a hand crank to remove the water from infected feces and urine, and converts the feces into dry, harmless, odorless pellets in a sealed bag that can be used for fertilizer or fuel. The air-tight system will also control odor and keep out flies and vermin, and requires no water, chemicals, or electricity. The system will help to contain human pathogens such as strains of Escherichia coli that cause many diseases and are particularly deadly to small children. In Phase I, they built the toilet and tested it on cow feces, which has similar water and bacteria content to humans. They found that it killed all the pathogens, sealed in odor, and the urine collector made nitrogen fertilizer. In Phase II, they will adapt the design for mass production, and develop a sustainable business model that generates revenue from the fertilizer and from electricity, which will be produced by a feces-fueled generator, to cover the cost of the toilet and collection service. They will also develop a reward system for using the toilets. They will produce several thousand toilets to test their business model in Africa or Haiti, and evaluate the profit or loss.

Turning Latrines Into Fly Traps

Steve LindsayLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondon, United Kingdom
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
4 Apr 2011

Steve Lindsay of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom seeks to demonstrate that flies are transmitters of diarrheal diseases due to their attraction to fecal matter and to food sources, and proposes to design traps that attract, capture and kill flies in latrines. If successful, the reductions in flies may reduce diarrheal diseases in local communities.

Safe Sludge

Kara NelsonUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, California, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
5 Apr 2011

Kara Nelson of the University of California, Berkeley in the U.S. proposes to disinfect excreta in latrines by converting the ammonia naturally found in urine and feces into a powerful disinfectant by adding an alkalinizing agent to raise the pH level. By killing pathogens immediately and turning excreta into “safe sludge,” all subsequent activities required for excreta management become safer.

Sensor Strategies to Eliminate HIV-1 Infected Cells

Joao GoncalvesFaculty of Pharmacy University of LisbonLisbon, Portugal
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
6 Apr 2011

Joao Goncalves of ADEIM - Faculdade de Farmacia Lisboa in Portugal proposes to develop molecular sensor strategies using nanoparticles to target memory T cells to deliver a toxin that will be expressed when zinc-finger proteins detect HIV-1 sequences.

Reversion of HIV Latency by Small Molecule Inhibition of miR

Alexander DeitersNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, North Carolina, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
6 Apr 2011

Alex Deiters of North Carolina State University in the U.S. will work to discover small molecule inhibitors of short ribonucleic acids (microRNAs) that cause HIV latency in resting T-lymphocytes. Inhibiting the function of these microRNAs could reverse HIV latency, purge HIV reservoirs, and ultimately represent a chemotherapeutic approach to eradicating HIV infection.

Testing Novel Nanoparticles for Antagonizing HIV Latency

Jerome ZackUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, California, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
6 Apr 2011

Jerome Zack of the University of California, Los Angeles in the U.S. will test nanoparticles for their ability to specifically activate HIV from latently infected cells. Once the latent cells express viral proteins, host immune responses and targeted therapies can be used to kill the cell. If successful, this project could provide an effective approach to eliminate an important viral reservoir from HIV infected individuals.

G-quadruplex: A Molecular Target for Selective HIV-1 Cure

Sara RichterUniversity of PaduaPadova, Italy
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
7 Apr 2011

Sara Richter of the University of Padua in Italy will develop a therapeutic to completely clear HIV from the body by targeting a proviral DNA structural motif found in both actively and latently infected host cells. In Phase I they analyzed a highly conserved DNA structural motif of four guanine nucleotides (G-4) found in the integrated HIV-1 proviral DNA and found that it regulates proviral transcription and is likely involved in latent infection. In Phase II, they will screen for small compounds that can selectively bind and damage these HIV G-4 structures with the aim to be able to selectively and fully eradicate HIV infection.

Oral Vaccination by Poliovirus-Like Particle Protein Chips

Hajime MoriKyoto Institute of TechnologyKyoto, Japan
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
7 Apr 2011

Hajime Mori of Kyoto Institute of Technology in Japan will develop protein chips that encapsulate poliovirus-like particles (PLP) for use as a safe and effective polio vaccine. When the PLP-protein chips are orally administered, they pass through the stomach without degradation and then are gradually released into the gut to induce a strong immunity against poliovirus infection.

Latency: A Biomarker Discovery Pipeline

Amalio TelentiInstitute of Microbiology, CHUV-UNILLausanne, Switzerland
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
7 Apr 2011

Amalio Telenti of the Institute of Microbiology in Switzerland proposes to identify biomarkers specific to HIV latency using high-throughput screening of RNA sequences and a customized screening tool for validating HIV positive individuals. If successful, the biomarkers could be used in the study of HIV latency reservoirs and aid eradication efforts.

Digitizing Paper-Based Data via Mobile Image Technologies

Allen WilcoxVillageReachSeattle, Washington, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
7 Apr 2011

Allen Wilcox of Village Reach in the U.S., working with the University of Washington's Computer Science & Engineering Department, will refine and field test a mobile scanning application to transform paper data into a scalable digital system. The solution would lower time and cost for data capture, improve data quality from the point of care, and provide access to the same information for all levels in the healthcare delivery system.

Radioimmunotherapy in Patients on ART for HIV Cure

Ekaterina DadachovaAlbert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva UniversityBronx, New York, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
7 Apr 2011

Ekaterina Dadachova of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the U.S., in collaboration with Arturo Casadevall, proposes to use radioimmunotherapy as a strategy to eliminate HIV-infected cells in patients on anti-retroviral therapy. Targeting viral antigens on these cells with radioactivity-armed antibodies could lead to HIV eradication. This project's Phase I research demonstrated that radioimmunotherapy can kill HIV-infected primary human cells in conjunction with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and that this antibody can also reach HIV-infected cells in the central nervous system. In Phase II, Dadachova and colleague Joan W. Berman will work with collaborators to study if radioimmunotherapy can kill cells latently infected with HIV, and will also investigate whether eradication of HIV in the central nervous system is an effective and safe modality.

Cell Surface Biomarkers of Latently Infected Cd4+ T Cells

Fabio RomerioUniversity of Maryland, BaltimoreBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
7 Apr 2011

Fabio Romerio of the University of Maryland, Baltimore in the U.S. seeks to identify surface biomarkers of HIV latently infected cells by comparing membrane proteomes of latently infected and uninfected cells. Unique biomarkers allow selective killing of latently infected cells with specific ligands, or targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents.

Combining HAART and HIV Immunization to Eradicate HIV

Nicolas ChomontVaccine & Gene Therapy InstitutePort St. Lucie, Florida, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
7 Apr 2011

Nicolas Chomont of the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute Florida in the U.S. will determine if the stimulation of latently infected cells with HIV antigens is a viable strategy for eradicating the HIV reservoir. If successful, the strategy could be used to cure HIV by combining HAART and immunization with HIV antigens.

Destruction of HIV-infected Cells by Molecular Nano-Switches

Marc-André LangloisUniversity of OttawaOttawa, Ontario, Canada
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
8 Apr 2011

Marc-Andre Langlois of the University of Ottawa in Canada will develop small molecules that combine together to form a toxic compound only when they enter an HIV-infected cell. Because the molecules are non-toxic for healthy cells, they could constitute promising candidates for a vaccine-based delivery system aimed at specifically eliminating HIV-infected cells.

Elimination of HIV by X-Ray-Stimulated Photodynamic Therapy

Hongxiang ChenUnion HospitalWuhan, China
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
8 Apr 2011

Hongxiang Chen of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University in China will develop X-ray-sensitive fluorescent nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies that will selectively bind to HIV. Once bound to the targets, the nanoparticles can be excited by X-rays to kill the virus.

Urban Sanitation Solutions for High-Use, Flooded, and Difficult to Serve Areas

Andreas KoestlerFontes FoundationOslo, Norway
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
8 Apr 2011

Andreas G. Koestler and Andrew Larsen of the Fontes Foundation in Norway will design and conduct a small field test in Haiti of a new toilet block system that can be erected as a kit in high-density, difficult to serve communities such as refugee camps. The system will feature urine diverting toilet pans as well as enlarged ventilation areas to help eliminate odors and desiccate feces, and will utilize used billboard fabric as waterproof walls, ceilings, and bladders to store excreta and contain pathogens that can foul water supplies.

Preventing Preterm Labor in Low Resource Settings

Scott SullivanMedical University of South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
8 Apr 2011

Scott Sullivan of the Medical University of South Carolina in the U.S. will build and test a vaginal insert for the prevention of preterm delivery. The device would mechanically support the cervix and dispense medication that would reduce preterm birth risk. It would be inexpensive, small, storage stable, re-usable and easily self-inserted.

The Latrine Training Mat

Clair NullInnovations for Poverty ActionNew Haven, Connecticut, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
8 Apr 2011

Clair Null and Silantoi Kisoso with Innovations for Poverty Action in the U.S., along with Michael Kremer of Harvard University, are designing a children's latrine training mat made from easy-to-clean plastic that fits over an existing latrine hole. The sturdy but easy-to-move platform has a child-sized hole that eliminates the fear and risk of falling into the latrine, promoting good sanitation practices and fostering a life-long habit of latrine use.

Development of a Non-Infectious Poliovirus Vaccine

James FlaneganUniversity of FloridaGainesville, Florida, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
8 Apr 2011

James Flanegan of the University of Florida in the U.S. proposes to develop a non-infectious poliovirus vaccine using encapsidated replicons or mature empty capsids that retain full immunogenicity. Either approach can be potentially used to develop a new vaccine that can be safely used in a pre- or post-eradication world.

FINGO: Vaccination Coverage Estimation and Outreach using Geolocation and Biometrics

Adithya VasudevanCHANGE (Center for Health & Awareness Alongside Novel Approaches to Growth & Empowerment)Manipal, , India
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
10 Apr 2011

Adithya Vasudevan of CHANGE in India will develop and test an application that uses low-cost fingerprint identification technology and GPS technology on mobile devices to identify, locate, and immunize children who have not received vaccinations for high-priority preventable diseases.

Novel Materials for Low-Cost Sanitary Pad Production

Lawino KagumbaAmerican Friends of ZanaAfricaNew York, New York, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
10 Apr 2011

Lawino Kagumba of ZanaAfrica in Kenya will develop and test sanitary pads that use a locally available agricultural by-product as an alternative low-cost absorbent material. This would enable low-income women and girls to have access to affordable feminine hygiene products, improving their productivity and menstrual health. In Phase I, Lawino Kagumbe and Megan White Mukuria of American Friends of ZanaAfrica Group in the U.S., working with collaborators in Kenya, developed a pulping process that could inexpensively and efficiently process readily available materials into an absorbent pulp suitable for sanitary pads. They also estimated costs of large-scale processing. In Phase II, Kagumba, now working directly for ZanaAfrica in Kenya, will further optimize the manufacturing process, design a plant for large-scale production, and produce low-cost sanitary pads for evaluation by end users in Kenya.

Adapting Cell Phone Technology for the Diagnosis of Malaria

Michael BarrettUniversity of GlasgowGlasgow, United Kingdom
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
11 Apr 2011

Mike Barrett, Jon Cooper and Lisa Ranford-Cartwright of the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom will test the ability of a key component in mobile phones to separate out red blood cells infected with malaria parasites in a blood sample. If successful, such devices could be mass produced for rapid and accurate malaria diagnosis.

Improve the Response to Oral Poliovirus Vaccine in India

Nicholas GrasslyImperial College LondonLondon, United Kingdom
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
11 Apr 2011

Nick Grassly of Imperial College London and colleagues at CMC-Vellore in India will try to improve the immune response to oral poliovirus vaccine among children in India by treating enteric infections before vaccination. If successful, this simple intervention could reduce the number of vaccine doses required to protect children in lower-income countries.

Treatment of Postpartum Hemorrhage Using Uterine Electrical Stimulation

Robert GarfieldSt. Joseph's Hospital & Medical CenterPhoenix, Arizona, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
11 Apr 2011

Robert Garfield of St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona in the U.S. will develop a compact, battery-powered device to electrically stimulate uterine contraction and prevent profuse bleeding following childbirth. The instrument could be used by any individual to reduce life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage in hospitals and in remote areas where prompt action is necessary.

siRNA-based Therapeutics for Preeclampsia

Melissa MooreUniversity of MassachusettsWorcester, Massachusetts, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
11 Apr 2011

Melissa J. Moore of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and S. Ananth Karumanchi of Harvard Medical School in the U.S. propose to develop siRNA- based therapies to silence genes in the placenta which produce excess proteins that cause preeclampsia. Temporarily silencing these genes can prolong pregnancy and protect the life of both infant and mother. In Phase I, they demonstrated that siRNAs can be delivered to the placenta, and those designed to target the mouse versions of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) could safely decrease protein levels in pregnant mice. In Phase II, Moore, Karumanchi and colleague Anastasia Khvorova will test the safety and efficacy of modified siRNAs for treating preeclampsia in a non-human primate model.

Hybrid Anaerobic Digester-Microbial Fuel Cell for Energy & Nutrient Capture

Leonard TenderNaval Research LaboratoryWashington, District of Columbia, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
11 Apr 2011

Leonard Tender of the Naval Research Laboratory in the U.S. proposes to develop a low-cost wastewater treatment system comprised of an anaerobic digester that generates organically rich acids to power a microbial fuel cell. If successful, the technology could reduce the burden of waterborne diseases in the developing world while providing useful energy.

Targeting HIV Provirus with Novel Restriction Endonucleases

Russell PoulterUniversity of OtagoDunedin, New Zealand
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
12 Apr 2011

Russell Poulter of the University of Otago in New Zealand will test 'homing' endonucleases found in the genomes of some microbes for their ability to precisely cleave DNA at very specific sites. If successful, these nucleases could be suitable for cleaving and eliminating integrated HIV.

Dirt-Power for Cell Phone Charging in Rural Africa

Erez Lieberman-AidenHarvard UniversityCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
12 Apr 2011

Erez Lieberman-Aiden and his team at Harvard University in the U.S. propose to develop a low-cost microbial fuel cell (MFC) to power cell phones in Africa. Certain naturally occurring soil microbes produce free electrons during the course of their ordinary metabolic processes, and MFCs will recharge themselves using power derived from these soil microbes. These fuel cells do not require any sophisticated materials to build, and can be easily assembled using locally available materials.

Decentralized Next Generation Sanitation for Diarrheal Pathogens

James BlackburnSouthern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, Illinois, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
12 Apr 2011

James Blackburn of Southern Illinois University in the U.S. will test a wind turbine-driven sanitation system for its ability to raise and maintain temperatures in an insulated container for the removal of pathogens in human waste. The technology could be used in developing countries in the temperate or equatorial zones to reduce the occurrence of diarrheal diseases.

Discovery of Tat-mimicking Compounds to Fight HIV Latency

Marco SgarbantiIstituto Superiore di SanitàRome, Italy
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
13 Apr 2011

Marco Sgarbanti at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Italy proposes to develop a new class of small molecules designed to mimic Tat gene products found in HIV that stimulate and accelerate the transcription of HIV RNA. These Tat-mimicking compounds could activate the latent virus, creating an opportunity to expose it to effective antiretroviral therapies.

A Sensitive Epigenetic Tool for Prediction of Pre-eclampsia

Mahua ChoudhuryTexas A&M Research FoundationCollege Station, Texas, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
13 Apr 2011

Mahua Choudhury of University of Colorado in the U.S. will develop a database of epigenetic signatures, changes in DNA and proteins caused by non-genetic factors such as poor nutrition, smoking and environmental contaminants, that could be used as predictors of pre-eclampsia. This information will be used to develop a cost- effective diagnostic tool to detect these markers in blood or urine.

Technology to Convert Excreta to Valuable Products

Ian GatesUniversity of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta, Canada
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
14 Apr 2011

Ian Gates and Michael Kallos of the University of Calgary in Canada propose to combine two well-established technologies - anaerobic micro-digesters and micro combined heat/power thermoelectric generation units – into a single portable unit that can consume human excreta to generate electricity, heat, methane, fertilizer and water. Each device will be designed to serve a single extended family.

A Vaccine-like Approach for Prevention of Preterm Brain Injury

Xiaoyang WangUniversity of Gothenburg Institute for Vaccine ResearchGothenburg, Sweden
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
14 Apr 2011

Xiaoyang Wang of University of Gothenburg in Sweden, along with Harvey Cantor of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the U.S., will test whether inhibition of a key molecule of inflammation can prevent brain injury in preterm newborns with asphyxia. If successful, this could be used to develop a vaccine-like approach to halt the process of neonatal brain injury.

Empty Poliovirus Capsids as Candidate Vaccines

Ian JonesUniversity of ReadingReading, United Kingdom
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
14 Apr 2011

Ian Jones of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom will investigate new methods to produce empty poliovirus capsids. These are virus-like particles that stimulate the same immunity as poliovirus itself but are completely non-infectious. A successful technology could offer cost and safety benefits leading to the replacement of traditional polio vaccines. In Phase I, he provided proof-of-concept for efficient assembly of empty viral capsids in vitro by testing different approaches to reduce the activity of the 3C enzyme, which has been associated with toxicity. In Phase II, he will scale-up viral capsid production, provide a complete biochemical and biophysical analysis of the capsids, and evaluate factors to promote stability, which is required for a usable vaccine. He will also test the ability of their empty viral capsids to initiate a protective immune response by immunizing small animal models.

Ceramic Umbilical Cord Finger Scissors

Margo KlarYale UniversityNew Haven, Connecticut, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
14 Apr 2011

Margo Klar of the University of Florida in the U.S. will develop a simple and re-usable ceramic device for cutting umbilical cords to reduce the risk of infection in newborns in developing countries. In limited resource settings, cords are often cut with knives or razor blades, which are unsafe and unclean. In Phase I they tested several ceramic-based prototypes on discarded umbilical cords and developed a design that was easy to clean and use, and enabled a simple hygienic cut while reducing potential bacterial exposure. In Phase II, they will optimize the design and perform preliminary tests in a real-life setting in Haiti for safety and ease of use.

Effective Treatment to Prevent Preterm Delivery

Iain BuxtonUniversity of Nevada, RenoReno, Nevada, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
14 Apr 2011

Iain Buxton of the University of Nevada School of Medicine will test the theory that the uterine muscle is regulated by a unique potassium channel that allows it to remain relaxed while a growing fetus continues to exert increasing pressure. Studying the dysfunction of this channel could lead to a therapeutic target to treat preterm delivery.

Artificial Merozoites as a Blood Stage Malaria Vaccine

Bart FaberBiomedical Primate Research CentreRijswijk, Netherlands
Grand Challenges Explorations
Infectious Diseases
15 Apr 2011

Bart Faber of the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands will attempt to create a malaria vaccine using artificial merozoites, which are the blood stage form of the disease. Faber will engineer yeast cells to present multiple surface proteins and measure subsequent antibody production. If successful, this yeast vaccine could be easy to produce and easily transported and stored at ambient temperatures.

Non-Hormonal Female Contraceptive Targeting Egg-Specific Metalloprotease

John HerrUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Contraceptive Technologies
15 Apr 2011

John Herr of the University of Virginia in the U.S. will research the egg-specific membrane enzyme metalloprotease as a target for a non-hormonal female contraceptive. After determining the nature of the enzyme's catalytic pocket, a family of peptidomimetic compounds will be tested for their ability to bind to the enzyme and block its key role in egg fertilization.

Biomarker and Transcriptome Analysis of the HIV Reservoir

Linos VandekerckhoveGhent University HospitalGhent, Belgium
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
15 Apr 2011

Linos Vandekerckhove of the University Hospital Ghent in Belgium proposes to analyze biomarkers and mRNA transcripts to discover well-defined biomarkers that can be used to assess the extent of the latent HIV reservoir in patients with an undetectable viral load.

"Lego" like Sanitation System: Pit Latrines Made of Biocomposites

Antonio AvilaUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisBelo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
15 Apr 2011

Antonio Avila of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil proposes to develop building blocks made from biocomposites that will replace conventional brick and cement constructions for pit latrines. The team will test these building blocks strength and their rate of biodegradation to determine their suitability for building latrines that will decompose once the pits are filled, allowing for the eventual reintroduction of the land for farming and other community uses.

Persisting HIV-1 Integration Sites in Humans in vivo

Christof von KalleDeutsches Krebsforschungszentrum / NCTHeidelberg, Germany
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
15 Apr 2011

Christof von Kalle of Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum/NCT in Germany will study the genomic location and clonal structure of HIV integration sites in host cells. Finding and eliminating these cells could make antiretroviral therapies more effective and increase the survival of infected individuals.

Invention of Mobile Poliovirus Diagnostic Platform

Róbert GyurcsányiHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapest, Hungary
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
15 Apr 2011

Róbert Gyurcsányi of Budapest University of Technology and Economics and Tamás Mészáros of Semmelweis University in Hungary are working with virologists and physicists to develop a poliovirus biosensor based on nanopores and aptamers. If successful, the device will allow on-site detection of poliovirus strains, making a poliovirus diagnostic available in low-resource areas.

Low-Cost Sustainable Solution for Rural Ultrasound

Kristen DeStigterImaging the WorldCharlotte, Vermont, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
15 Apr 2011

Kristen DeStigter and Brian Garra of Imaging the World in the U.S. will test a newly developed ultrasound imaging and diagnosis system that can be used in rural areas without trained personnel or electricity to help detect critical maternal conditions that increase maternal and infant mortality.

Engineering HIV-1 Integrase for Provirus Removal

Gorica RakleovaSofia UniversitySofia, Bulgaria
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
18 Apr 2011

Gorica Rakleova of Sofia University in Bulgaria proposes to identify and create a library of HIV-1 integrase variants that are capable of removing virus sequences from infected cell genomes. If successful, these variants could be used as new HIV therapies.

Developing Fortified Excreta Pellets for Use in Agriculture

Olufunke CofieInternational Water Management Institute - GhanaAccra, Ghana
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
18 Apr 2011

Olufunke Cofie of the International Water Management Institute in Ghana will develop and test fortified fertilizer pellets from treated human excreta for market sale. Production at large scale could enhance agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, while also contributing to reduction in environmental health risk from untreated human waste. In Phase I Cofie tested several materials that are inexpensive and locally available as binding agents for producing robust fecal sludge pellets suitable for packaging and transportation. She also developed a pelletization unit to produce the pellets, tested their performance as fertilizers, and carried out cost, benefit, and market analyses in Ghana. In Phase II, Cofie and co-investigator Josiane Nikiema will work with partners to establish a supply chain using septic truck operators to scale up production, set up a distribution and sales strategy, and promote the use of their pellets to farmers in Northern Ghana.

A Novel Way to Increase Intestinal Immunity to Poliovirus

Simon CardingUniversity of East AngliaNorwich, United Kingdom
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
18 Apr 2011

Simon Carding of the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom will test the feasibility of a new technology using live commensal gut bacteria for the controlled delivery of poliovirus antigens to the intestinal mucosa to generate protective viral immunity.

Marinobufagenin Predicts Later Development of Preeclampsia

Jules PuschettTexas A&M Research FoundationCollege Station, Texas, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
18 Apr 2011

Jules Puschett of the TAMUS Health Science Center Research Foundation in the U.S. will study initial evidence that elevated levels of the steroid hormone marinobufagenin (MBG) in urine is a very early indicator of preeclampsia in pregnant women. If true, this common and dangerous condition could be diagnosed early with a simple urine dipstick test, and potentially prevented or treated with a molecule called resibufogenin, which counteracts MBG.

A "Smart Diaphragm" for the Early Detection of Preterm Labor

Larry RandUniversity of California San FranciscoSan Francisco, California, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
18 Apr 2011

Larry Rand and colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco in the U.S. will develop a vaginal diaphragm to detect changes in cervical collagen and wirelessly alert health providers before preterm labor begins. This device would identify a new pre-labor "window" during which intervention could reduce mortality and disability resulting from preterm birth among at-risk pregnant women. In Phase I, they designed an easy to use and low-cost device incorporating electrical impedance detection circuitry and fiber optic cable to accurately measure collagen concentration in the cervix of pregnant women over time. Prototypes were built for clinical tests to evaluate the capacity for identifying pregnant women at risk of preterm birth, as well as comfort and acceptability. In Phase II they will optimize the device to make it more robust and user-friendly and expand clinical testing to rural settings in South Africa. They will also develop phone-to-cloud technology for wirelessly collecting the measurements from the device through a mobile phone to a server (cloud) for analysis, and to enable return of the prognosis.

A Device to Treat Post Partum Hemorrhage

Glenna BettUniversity at BuffaloBuffalo, New York, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
18 Apr 2011

Glenna Bett of SUNY University at Buffalo in the U.S. proposes to develop a device to treat postpartum hemorrhage suitable for use even when medical facilities are absent or minimal, and in non-sterile environments. If successful, this has the potential to reduce perinatal deaths worldwide.

Modifying HIV Proteins To Kill Latently Infected Cells

Steven R. KingUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
18 Apr 2011

Steven R. King of the University of Michigan in the U.S. proposes to engineer HIV proteins that can target and destroy HIV in latently infected cells. If successful, these new anti-viral drugs together with conventional treatments could completely clear the virus from people, resulting in a cure for HIV infection.

Diagnostic Device for Accurate Diagnosis of Pre-eclampsia

Zhenan BaoStanford UniversityStanford, California, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
18 Apr 2011

Zhenan Bao of Stanford University in the U.S. will develop a low-cost sensing strip with a diagnostic reader to diagnose pre-eclampsia. The diagnosis is based upon the fact that there is an electrical current change when pre-eclampsia is present. If successful, this diagnostic tool could be used for the early detection and monitoring of this condition to avoid late-stage pregnancy complications.

A New Method for Handling Dysfunctional Labor

Eva Wiberg-ItzelKarolinska InstitutetStockholm, Sweden
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
19 Apr 2011

Eva Wiberg-Itzel of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden proposes to develop an easy and informative test which measures the concentration of lactate in the amniotic fluid of laboring women to help obstetricians and midwifes predict labor outcomes. Measuring lactate levels can give care providers an early indication of whether interventions are needed to reduce maternal and infant mortality in developing countries.

Selective Apoptosis Induction in HIV-1 Reservoirs

Adam SpivakUniversity of UtahSalt Lake City, Utah, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
19 Apr 2011

Adam Spivak from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the U.S. will perform a high-throughput screen to identify novel compounds able to selectively induce cell death in chronically HIV-1 infected cells. Understanding the mechanism of action of such compounds will inform efforts to target and eradicate remaining HIV-1 reservoirs in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Mucosal Immunity in Polio

Peter WrightDartmouth CollegeHanover, New Hampshire, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
19 Apr 2011

Peter Wright of Dartmouth Medical School in the U.S. will determine if preexisting gut immunity predicts shedding of poliovirus vaccine. The study builds on specimens from two previous trials conducted by the WHO. Understanding how inactivated and live poliovirus vaccines protect against shedding of poliovirus is central to strategies for polio eradication.

Malaria Screening With a Cell Phone and Magnetic Levitation

Ionita GhiranBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Inc.Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
20 Apr 2011

Ionita Ghiran of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the U.S. and collaborator Pierre Striehl of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine propose to develop a cell phone compatible diagnostic screening device based solely on the principles of magnetic levitation, allowing detection of malaria-infected red blood cells. If successful, mass production of the device should be possible due to its construction from basic components.

Improved Vaccine Technology to Eradicate Polio

Ralph TrippUniversity of GeorgiaAthens, Georgia, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
20 Apr 2011

Ralph Tripp at the University of Georgia in the U.S. will identify genes that, when inhibited, enhance viral replication in the host cell lines used in the manufacture of vaccines in order to reduce the cost of vaccine production. In Phase I, he performed RNA interference screens to identify 21 host genes that, when inhibited, could enhance poliovirus replication and thereby vaccine production. In Phase II, Tripp will broaden his approach to vaccine production against rotaviruses, which cause substantial childhood mortality particularly in developing countries. He will perform a high-throughput RNA interference screen to identify genes that significantly influence viral replication. These will be used to generate a stable gene knockout cell line to test for increased rotavirus production.

Cell Phone-Based Near-Infrared Camera for High-Risk Neonates

Qianqian FangGeneral Hospital CorporationBoston, Massachusetts, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
21 Apr 2011

Qianqian Fang of the Massachusetts General Hospital in the U.S. proposes to develop a portable, low-cost mobile-phone-based near-infrared camera for monitoring brain injury in neonates. If successful, it could help identify and monitor high-risk newborns in resource-limited regions.

Identification of New Treatments for Neonatal H-I Encephalopathy

Xin WangBrigham and Women's HospitalBoston, Massachusetts, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
21 Apr 2011

Xin Wang and colleagues from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Medical Center in the U.S., along with collaborators from Weifang Medical University in China and Christian Medical College in India, will identify new treatments and associated diagnostic biomarkers for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in newborns, which is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In Phase I they discovered that agonists of the melatonin receptor, alone or in combination with hypothermia, could prevent newborn hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in a mouse model. In Phase II, they will study the mechanism of action of these agonists, and evaluate their potential as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers in newborn mice and humans with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury to help rapid detection and the optimization of treatment strategies.

Identification of Candidate Markers of HIV Latency

Daniel KavanaghGeneral Hospital CorporationBoston, Massachusetts, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
21 Apr 2011

Daniel Kavanagh of Massachusetts General Hospital in the U.S. proposes to use a novel class of molecular probes to identify and characterize individual cells latently infected with HIV. If successful, this project will identify new markers that may be used to target and eliminate HIV-infected cells.

Transplantation of Selected Blood Stem Cells as a Treatment

Gero HütterGerman Red CrossMannheim, Germany
Grand Challenges Explorations
HIV Infection
1 May 2011

Gero Hütter of Red Cross Germany proposes to use stem cells transplants to cure HIV. He is planning to develop a program that generates a registry of stem cells that lack the CCR5 protein, which is used by HIV to enter into a cell. If successful these adult stem cells could be transplanted into a HIV patient and effectively “cure” HIV.

Poliovirus Vaccine for the Post Eradication Era

Jane CardosaSentinext TherapeuticsPenang, Malaysia
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
1 May 2011

Jane Cardosa of Sentinext Therapeutics in Malaysia will design recombinant viruses that can generate self-assembling poliovirus-like particles for use in a poliovirus vaccine. Such a vaccine will be important after wild poliovirus has been eradicated so that people will still have access to a protective vaccine without the necessity of maintaining live poliovirus stocks.

Universal Slum Sanitation with 100% Safe Reuse of Nutrients

Karsten GjefleSustainable Sanitation DesignOslo, Norway
Grand Challenges Explorations
Sanitation Technologies
1 May 2011

Karsten Gjefle of Sustainable Sanitation Design in Norway will design and test a low cost system to rapidly turn human excreta into pathogen-free compost for use as fertilizer for farmers. Gjefle and his team hope to create a viable financial market that will remove untreated sewage from urban areas and also provide farmers with recycled, safe and natural soil improvements.

Early Child Health Intervention Using Breathing Sound

Insu SongJames Cook University SignaporeSingapore, Singapore
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
1 May 2011

Insu Song and Joachim Diederich of the James Cook University in Singapore propose a cell phone-based system for collecting and analyzing time location-tagged children's crying and breathing sounds to detect respiratory infections. This system provides treatment information for parents and generates public health data regarding the spread of infectious diseases.

Low-cost Pulse Oximetry Probes for Low Resource Settings

John WyattPower-free Education and TechnologyCape Town, South Africa
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
1 May 2011

John Wyatt of Power-free Education and Technology in South Africa will develop a durable, low-cost pulse oximetry probe for use with a “wind-up” pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen saturation levels in the blood of newborns, sick children and mothers undergoing cesarean section in low resource settings.

Development of a Non-live Liposomal Polio Vaccine

David MossXenetic Biosciences plcCamden, United Kingdom
Grand Challenges Explorations
Poliovirus Eradication
1 May 2011

David Moss from Lipoxen plc in the United Kingdom aims to develop a non-live polio vaccine using liposomes to entrap and deliver defined poliovirus antigens effectively to the immune system. If successful, the project will expedite the development and global deployment of a simple, economic new polio vaccine.

eMosquitoNet: Electronic Mosquito Net Application

Josiane NzouontaCayoll LLCOrange, New Jersey, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
1 May 2011

Josiane Nzouonta and Renita Machado of Cayoll LLC in the U.S. will develop and test a cell phone application, eMosquitoNet, which plays music that includes sound waves at resonant frequencies of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit yellow fever and dengue fever. These sound waves cause uncontrollable vibrations and failure of the mosquito's navigation system, preventing them from feeding and spreading disease.

Palm Vein Biometric Identification Prototype

Yaroslav RyabovBC Portal, Inc.Rockville, Maryland, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
1 May 2011

Yaroslav Ryabov and Denis Broydo of BC Portal, Inc. in the U.S. propose to develop cell phones as biometric identification devices which use the phone camera to take and analyze near-infrared images of hand palms. The unique vein patterns found in the palm can be used by health workers in remote areas to identify individuals and maintain health records for these underserved populations.

SpectraPhone Automated Reagentless Diagnostic System

Kenneth PuzeyQuantaSpec, Inc.Burlington, Vermont, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Cell Phone Applications
1 May 2011

Kenneth Puzey of QuantaSpec in the U.S. will develop the Spectraphone to provide automated, rapid, reagent-less diagnosis of malaria and other infectious diseases using an infrared spectrometer embedded in a cell phone.

Diagnostic Device for Early Detection of Neonatal Sepsis

Karen WuLucerna, Inc.New York, New York, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
1 May 2011

Karen Wu of Lucerna, Inc. in the U.S. seeks to develop a portable fluorescence-based device for the rapid detection of procalcitonin (PCT), a biomarker of early sepsis. An inexpensive, simple to use and highly durable device can aid in the early detection of neonatal sepsis, a major cause of infant mortality in developing countries.

New Technology for Assessment of Hydration Status of Newborn

Noune SarvazyanArtann LaboratoriesTrenton, New Jersey, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
1 May 2011

Noune Sarvazyan and a team at Artann Laboratories in the U.S. will develop a hand-held ultrasonic device for noninvasive measurement of soft tissue water content to assess dehydration in newborns. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of infant morbidity and mortality.

Novel Hemostatic Foam to Treat Postpartum Hemorrhage

Toby FreymanArsenal Medical, Inc.Watertown, Massachusetts, United States
Grand Challenges Explorations
Mothers and Newborns
1 May 2011

Toby Freyman of Arsenal Medical, Inc. in the U.S. proposes to develop a hemostatic foam device that can be delivered into the uterus to control bleeding following childbirth. Success in this effort will significantly reduce maternal death in the developing world by providing an effective yet simple and inexpensive medical device that is compatible with existing infrastructure.

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