Gates' Foundation Funds $436 Million In Global Health Projects

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced the funding of 43 research projects, that will receive a combined US$436 million to implement radical proposals for confronting problems such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, malnutrition, and other world health problems.

The Gates' Foundation identified 14 "grand challenges" .. developing vaccines that do not require refrigeration or needles .. that create immunity in one dose and are safe for newborns .. vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS .. ways to stop insects from spreading diseases .. growing more nutritious staple crops to combat malnutrition .. preventing drug resistance .. methods to treat latent and chronic infections such as hepatitis and tuberculosis .. and finding more accurate ways to diagnose and track diseases.

The Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative was launched in 2003, taking proposals for projects that would be funded for up to US$20 million, for 5 years. The projects involve scientists in 33 countries seeking to create 'deliverable technologies' -- health tools that are effective, inexpensive to produce, easy to distribute, and simple to use in developing countries. Researchers are allowed to patent anything they invent, but they must guarantee that it will be made available to poor countries at low cost or free.

"It's shocking how little research is directed toward the diseases of the world's poorest countries," Bill Gates said. "By harnessing the world's capacity for scientific innovation, I believe we can transform health in the developing world and save millions of lives."

Bill Gates originally committed $200 million to the project but raised that to $450 million when more promising proposals were submitted.

$18 million + $36 million = A Real Commitment

Mozambique's UN Ambassador thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

After all, Greg Carr, founder of the internet service Africa Online, seemed to be interested in helping Africa, not just benefitting from Africa's growth.

The result? A $36 million pledge to the Mozambique Ministry of Tourism, to be paid over the next 30 years. Greg Carr, who was connected with the very first Internet venture, Prodigy, has directed the money toward making the million-acre Gorongosa National Park into a tourist destination, as well as preserving the wildlife there and educating the local population, creating jobs and providing social services.

But the giving didn't stop there ..

Greg had bought a condominium in Manhattan in 2001 for $7.5 million .. and spent $3 million renovating. He lives full-time in Cambridge, MA. So he's put it on the market, asking $18 million. The proceeds he will donate to his family foundation, for the benefit of the same Mozambican park.

The Carr Foundation is dedicated to supporting human rights, caring for the environment and supporting the arts.

Now that's a .. prodigious undertaking!