Reducing the Burden of Preeclampsia - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Eligibility

Who is eligible for grants? 
This initiative is open to nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions. We particularly encourage applications involving projects led by women or from women-led organizations and applications from institutions based in low- and middle-income countries.

Upon registration, applicants must provide information about the tax status of their organization as different terms and conditions may apply under the applicable tax laws. You should confirm your organization's tax status with the appropriate advisor or entity within your organization such as your grants or contracts department, finance, or office of sponsored research. The funder may request additional information regarding your tax status. For information about tax statuses, you may check with your own advisors and review information on the applicable tax requirements.

The guidelines mention that you will not fund proposals that focus on implementation science. Could you clarify this? 
This call is focused on just discovery; implementation science while important is not a focus of this call.

Are AI-driven applications eligible? 
As long as these are deployable in low middle-income settings, we will consider them.

Do I need to apply as part of a consortia or collaboration? 
Collaborations are always encouraged if they fit within the idea that you want to submit, but it's not a requirement.

Is it possible to submit more than one project? 
Yes, organizations may submit more than one proposal, but the email address and the Principal Investigator (PI) should be distinct for each submission.

What are the qualifications needed for the Principal Investigator or project lead? 
Specific qualifications are not required for the PI if they can demonstrate they have the background and expertise to carry out the work.

Are studies involving animal models appropriate for this grant opportunity? 
Yes, if they are addressing understanding the disease pathogenesis and have a clearly articulated hypothesis.

Are U.S. companies required to have a partner organization in LMIC to submit? Can proposed clinical work be done entirely in the United States? 
While a partnership with an LMIC organization is not required, it is encouraged. Projects should prioritize adaptability and practicality to ensure their solutions are broadly applicable to LMICs.

What activities and scope are expected in the proposal? 
This depends on the project and its goals. This should be driven by the investigating team

How does the Gates Foundation approach the sequencing of data generation across high and low-income countries? 
There needs to be a clearly articulated plan involving LMIC partners; there also needs to be a clear hypothesis which is being tested

Is there a preference for studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia? 
The burden is equally great in both settings, so there is no preference.

Should the application be done for a single country or multiple countries? 
The application should address a question that can be answered with the chosen countries.

Is there an interest in investigating the role of paternal health in predicting preeclampsia? 
Yes, if it can be translated into actionable outcomes at scale in LMIC settings.

Can the proposal focus on the first six weeks postpartum to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality? 
The primary focus is on neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality associated with the disease as it strikes. – Postpartum studies are not a Foundation priority for this call.

Is preliminary data needed? 
Some preliminary data would be necessary to make an objective assessment of the proposal

If we are developing a diagnostic, would it be required to serve LMIC? 
Yes, it would be required to serve LMIC(s)

Would you consider nutrition interventions, e.g., calcium? 
Yes, but it needs to be distinct and build on existing literature – calcium is already part of many guidelines

For drug development targeting new markers, are animal models acceptable? 
Yes, as long as the overall case is reasonable and the ultimate cost of goods is amenable to LMIC settings.

When would a potentially funded project be expected to start? 
Grants are expected to start in the fall of 2025.

Is clinical research needed to be conducted in LMICs even if low cost and scalable to low resource settings? 
Yes, there needs to be some patients in LMIC settings.

Can we leverage biomarkers that were successfully tested in high-income countries but need to be upscaled or tested in sub-Saharan Africa? 
Yes, that's reasonable.

Can proposals involving community health workers in relation to creating awareness to mothers with preeclampsia be considered? 
This is less within the remit for this call as it heads into implementation strategy and health system strengthening.

Application Process

What must my application include? 
Please refer to the Application Instructions document.

Am I able to edit my proposal once submitted?
Yes, you may edit your proposal up until the specified deadline.

What amount of indirect cost is available? 
Details of the foundation indirect cost policy guidelines can be found here: Gates Foundation's indirect cost policy.

Review Process

How does the review process work?
Please refer to the Rules and Guidelines document

Can I get a list of potential reviewers who might be assigned to my application? 
No. We do not make public the roster of reviewers.

Can I request that my application not be reviewed by a specific individual? 
No. However, we will ask reviewers to self-identify conflicts of interest and will not assign reviewers with conflicts.

Will I receive specific feedback on my application if it is not selected?
Due to the rapid proposal and review timelines applicable to this RFP, applicants with proposals that are not selected for award may receive a notification of decline without specific feedback.

Award Information

Are grant awards made directly to individuals? 
No. All awards are made to the organization where the individual holds their primary appointment. Institutions must agree to the terms and conditions governing each grant award prior to award activation.

How much money will each grant provide? 
We will consider proposals for awards of up to $500,000 USD for each project, with a grant term of up to 2 years. Application budgets should be commensurate with the scope of work proposed. Indirect costs will be considered, and should be included in the budget for the up to $500,000 USD award (subject to the Gates Foundation's indirect cost policy).

Technical Support

I forgot my password. How do I reset my password? 
You can request to update your password within the application site. If you continue to have issues, please reach out to [email protected].

How will I know if my application was submitted? 
Once an application is submitted, an email confirmation will be sent.

I'm having trouble uploading my application file. What should I do? 
If you are having issues submitting your application, we would encourage you to submit from a different browser. If the issue persists, please email the specifics of your problem to [email protected].

How often do you intend to update the Frequently Asked Questions, and do you plan to provide answers to all questions submitted? 
We will periodically post answers to questions as they are submitted, but do not have a specific schedule. We will provide answers on this page that are of relevance and of general interest to potential applicants. For answers to specific questions that are not covered here, please email [email protected]