The Gates Foundation is part of the Grand Challenges partnership network. Visit <a href="https://www.grandchallenges.org" target="_blank">www.grandchallenges.org</a> to view the map of awarded grants across this network and grant opportunities from partners.

Grand Challenges supports exceptional scientists with the expertise to do breakthrough R&amp;D as well as the experience, networks, and skills to excel as scientific leaders. These champions co-create projects with global partners, mobilize key institutions in their countries, and improve public health in their communities and around the world.

Grand Challenges funds innovations to tackle the biggest problems in global health and development. Since 2004, through the Grand Challenges program, we have supported more than 2500 innovation projects in more than 90 countries.

For more than 20 years, Grand Challenges has built trusted relationships with global health funders and researchers. We tap into this powerful network to create unique scientific collaborations with a transformative impact on people's lives.

Innovation happens all along the journey from idea, to experiment, to product or policy, and finally to delivery at scale in communities. We fund innovation projects while supporting an environment of champions, systems, and partnerships to maximize the impact these projects make in people's lives.

The 4 Pillars of the Grand Challenges Ecosystem

Doing groundbreaking science requires the right mix of institutions, policies, and tools. Grand Challenges works with partners in low- and middle-income countries to build or strengthen the capacities they need to succeed in R&amp;D.

Open Grant Opportunities

Run For Her - “No woman should die giving life”

On a recent Sunday morning, about 50,000 runners packed the streets of Nairobi and 25 other counties across Kenya to raise awareness about postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal death.Moses Obimbo, a <a href="https://contentpreview-spoke.grandchallenges.org/champion/moses-obimbo-madadi" target="_blank">Calestous Juma fellow</a> and practicing ob-gyn, began organizing the run three years ago to break the culture of silence surrounding PPH in Kenya. He hoped awareness would lead to community ownership and action. The government has since released plans to reduce preventable maternal, neonatal, and stillbirth deaths by 15% across 26 hotspot counties within two years.This year, organizers also set up blood donation sites at the finish lines. They collected 3,350 units of blood - enough to save about 1,500 women from death or organ failure."I really believe in the power of the people. When we all push for something to be done and work as a team, then it's possible to save our mothers," said Moses.

Grand Challenges Impact

Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2026

Opening Remarks: Hugh Brady, President, Imperial College London (United Kingdom) Imperial College London President Hugh Brady welcomes delegates to the 2026 Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, celebrating Imperial's longstanding partnership with Grand Challenges programs.

Opening Remarks Hugh Brady

Keynote Address: Trevor Mundel, President, Global Health, Gates Foundation (United States) Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health at the Gates Foundation, delivers a keynote address on why the case for sustained investment in global health R&amp;D has never been clearer - and what it will take to translate scientific progress into impact.

Keynote Address: Trevor Mundel

Fireside Chat: Uğur Şahin (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, BioNTech, Germany); Femi Oke (Co-Founder, Moderate the Panel, United States) BioNTech Co-Founder and CEO Uğur Şahin joins emcee Femi Oke for a conversation exploring how breakthrough science, sustained R&amp;D investment, and cross-sector collaboration can accelerate the pace and scale of innovation while ensuring its benefits are shared globally.

Grand Challenges Impact

Announcements

Professor Abdoulaye Djimdé Named to UN Secretary General's Scientific Advisory Board

Awards for “Innovations for Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery“ Announced

African Scientific Leaders Outline Focused Actions to Strengthen Health R&D

Grand Challenges Initiatives Grants Awarded - 2025

Blog Posts

Making a Better Banana

Grand Challenges 2023: Celebrating 20 Years of Science and Community

To support innovators in Africa, create an environment where African R&D thrives

Supporting locally led innovation in global health and development

Project Videos

Grand Challenges Spotlight Talk: Collen Masimirembwa

Grand Challenges Spotlight Talk: David Baker

Grand Challenges Spotlight Talk: Moses Obimbo Madadi

Grand Challenges Spotlight Talk: Rose Malot Waswa

Project Photos

Grand Challenges Initiatives Highlights - December 2025

Grand Challenges Network Initiatives Highlights - October 2024

Grand Challenges Network Initiatives Highlights - August 2024

Grand Challenges Initiatives Highlights - October 2023