Grant Opportunities

Grand Challenges

<h2>THE OPPORTUNITY</h2>
Embracing the tradition of microbial fermentation to transform locally available foods into naturally vitamin-fortified, toxin-free, flavorful, and shelf-stable products could empower local communities to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on supply chain/food security and improve the health and nutrition of mothers and children in the most vulnerable settings. Historical advances in food processing have largely employed strategies that involve supplementation with micronutrients and additives to improve nutritional content and stability, but these approaches require highly centralized supply chains.<a href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title="" id="_ednref1">1</a> In addition, chemical additives for preservation, flavor and texture purposes may have unintended consequences of contributing to compromised gut health and increased prevalence of metabolic disease (hypertension, diabetes, obesity).<a href="#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title="" id="_ednref2">2</a>
Fermentation is an ancient practice through which locally-sourced food substrates can be transformed naturally by environmentally occurring microbes. These processes are thought to be intricately intertwined with human biology, and it is hypothesized that our primate ancestors adapted to natural fermentation processes millions of years ago.<a href="#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title="" id="_ednref3">3</a> While many fermented foods (e.g., yogurt, cheese, coffee and alcohol) remain popular, certain types of fermentation are a dwindling art in many settings, representing a loss of cultural heritage and a natural way to improve the qualities of foods across several distinct axes<a href="#_edn4" name="_ednref4" title="" id="_ednref4">4</a>:
<ul><li>Improve macro- and micro-nutrient quality and bioavailability (e.g., B vitamins)<a href="#_edn5" name="_ednref5" title="" id="_ednref5">5</a></li>
<li>Remove anti-nutrients (mycotoxins; phytates, which decrease iron availability)<a href="#_edn6" name="_ednref6" title="" id="_ednref6">6</a></li>
<li>Transform taste, flavor and texture<a href="#_edn7" name="_ednref7" title="" id="_ednref7">7</a></li>
<li>Improve the preservation and stability of foods by excluding pathogens (through lowering pH, bacteriocin production, removing simple sugars)<a href="#_edn8" name="_ednref8" title="" id="_ednref8">8</a></li>
</ul>Historical approaches of macronutrient supplementation and micronutrient fortification have been the basis for transformative global health nutrition interventions, ultimately saving millions of lives each year.<a href="#_edn9" name="_ednref9" title="" id="_ednref9">9</a> These approaches have also focused on pediatric populations, although recent work suggests that solutions targeting maternal nutrition may be even more impactful on pediatric health and have the important benefit of also improving maternal health.<a href="#_edn10" name="_ednref10" title="" id="_ednref10">10</a> Given limited access of nutritional interventions by the populations in greatest need<a href="#_edn11" name="_ednref11" title="" id="_ednref11">11</a> and formulations that are not optimized for gut and metabolic health,<a href="#_edn12" name="_ednref12" title="" id="_ednref12">12</a> malnutrition remains one of the most significant global health problems facing society today.
COVID-19, with disruption of supply chains and a predilection for individuals with metabolic diseases, has served to increase the urgency for identifying locally-sourceable health-promoting maternal nutrition solutions that treat undernutrition without increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Ironically, it may be that these new solutions already exist in the form of ancient traditions reevaluated and revalued through a next-generation and evidence-based lens.
<h2>THE CHALLENGE</h2>
Beyond many of the well-known examples of microbial fermentation, the vast majority of fermentation processes around the world remain uncharacterized and their potential human health benefits are unknown. These ancient practices may hold the key to impactful and locally targeted nutritional interventions that combine tradition and science to tackle malnutrition. Rigorous scientific evaluation has been limited and characterization to understand potential benefits could be pursued to validate and underscore the importance of preserving this cultural heritage.
What we are looking for
This call seeks to fund pilot studies that investigate the biological effect of traditional locally fermented foods on key microbiome, gut, and health biomarkers in local populations. The goal is to provide investigators in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with the resources to build local capacity to investigate fermented foods as novel maternal nutrition interventions. In particular, sequencing technology – a transformative tool that has enabled in-depth investigation of microbial communities – will be provided to all investigators to democratize the ability to investigate foods and health effects, and build local capacity. Ultimately, the goal is to empower local communities to develop geography and culture specific interventions powered by fermentation, in country.
Proposals should specifically address the following core elements, but investigators are welcome to propose creative strategies and designs to accomplish the core goals of this call and account for local cultural traditions. In addition, it is expected that study design will be refined after award through a collaborative forum invovling other awardees and the foundation:
<ul><li>Identification of a local (geographic/cultural) fermented food for study
<ul><li>Many foods may not be colloquially considered to be fermented, but any process that incorporates biotransformation by microbes is acceptable</li>
<li>Living microbes were actively employed as a part of the fermentation process and final product consumed retains live organisms</li>
<li>Fermentation may be driven by known organisms, e.g. bacterial Lactobacillus sp., fungal Aspergillus sp., or less studied food-borne organisms</li>
<li>Must be plant-based (e.g., grain or staple crop). Plant-based fermented foods are a requirement due to lower cost of goods for scalability compared to animal-based foods</li>
<li>Food with a cultural precedent in maternal nutrition are of high interest</li>
<li>The food being investigated must be produced in compliance under all relevant local food manufacturing regulations and modern food safety practices</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Pilot study design for longitudinal intervention study for understanding the effect of the fermented food in a naïve (no, or limited, fermented food consumption) population
<ul><li>The target population should be women of reproductive age, and a naive population not currently consuming or with limited consumption of the target fermented food to better understanding the biological effects of the food itself. Different subpopulations (urban vs. rural, various cultural groups, different sub-geographies within a country, etc.) with lower consumption of the target fermented food could be specifically targeted. If populations traditionally consuming fermented foods are considered, it would be important to undertake a baseline to understand the additive effect after consumption of "target foods".</li>
<li>Longitudinal intervention studies are recommended, with small cohort sizes (20-30 participants) and sustained exposure to the fermented food (e.g., at least daily &gt;5 days) but ultimately the study design should be motivated by the end goal of characterizing the effects of the food on maternal nutrition through host (blood and fecal) and gut microbiome biomarkers.</li>
<li>A template dietary questionnaire will be provided and can be customized to local foods and traditions</li>
<li>Existing infrastructure that may improve ability to execute on the proposed study can and should be highlighted</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Biological sample biobanking and characterization before and after food intervention
<ul><li>Fermented foods themselves (metagenomic analysis of fungal [ITS] and bacterial [16S] constituents), potentially across distinct batches and preparation methods</li>
<li>Serial fecal samples from participants (metagenomic analysis; lipocalin-2, myeloperoxidase, and calprotectin of particular interest)</li>
<li>Serial serum/blood samples from participants (Iron studies, B-vitamin analysis; lipocalin-2, IL-6 and CRP are of particular interest given the association of inflammation biomarkers with maternal nutrition and birth outcomes) <a href="#_edn13" name="_ednref13" title="" id="_ednref13">13</a></li>
<li>Other characterization approaches of food (including effects of fermentation on the nutritional profile) or biological samples using conventional or existing techniques</li>
<li>Proposals should specifically address existing laboratory infrastructure and capacity for integrating next generation sequencing into existing laboratory workflows (e.g. nucleic acid extraction, PCR, etc.)</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>As a part of this 18 month Grand Challenges award, sequencing platforms (funded with up to USD $40K for sequencing technology out of this USD $200K award) and training will be provided to investigators to enable local sequence-based characterization of the fermented foods and microbiome effects. The output of this study will be pilot data evaluating the biological effect of traditional fermented foods on gut, microbiome and health axes in local populations. Any additional points on the sustainability of the intervention and the empowerment of local champions to continue the work, integrating with state and national level Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) programs would also be welcome.
What we will not consider funding 
<ul><li>Investigators and institutions not located in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia</li>
<li>Investigators not studying local foods (specific to the culture or geography)</li>
<li>Investigators not investigating local populations</li>
<li>Proposals that do not contain a human interventional study targeted towards women of reproductive age. No studies on child populations will be funded.</li>
<li>Proposals not addressing all the stated study design criteria above</li>
<li>Proposals that do not demonstrate a capacity to perform the research proposed; investigators should describe capacity for human studies, sample collection, processing and storage, including but not limited to:
<ul><li>Relevant approvals from local authorities/institutions/Government on the research methodology and sharing of data among collaborators, eventually for global access</li>
<li>Data analysis and adherence to relevant local laws/ policies pertaining to data sharing, hosting and data protection.</li>
<li>Secure handling of personally identifiable information data and research results</li>
<li>Institutional Review Boards or equivalent human study regulation strategy</li>
<li>Sample collection capacity/protocols and capacity for sample storage</li>
<li>Ability to perform human biological sample characterization as proposed</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>___________________________________
References
<a href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title="" id="_edn1">[1]</a> <a href="https://www.fao.org/3/a-i3953e.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.fao.org/3/a-i3953e.pdf</a>
<a href="#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title="" id="_edn2">[2]</a> <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature14232/" target="_blank">https://www.nature.com/articles/nature14232/</a>
<a href="#_ednref3" name="_edn3" title="" id="_edn3">[3]</a> <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/112/2/458" target="_blank">https://www.pnas.org/content/112/2/458</a>
<a href="#_ednref4" name="_edn4" title="" id="_edn4">[4]</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958166919300990" target="_blank">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958166919300990</a>
<a href="#_ednref5" name="_edn5" title="" id="_edn5">[5]</a> <a href="https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/4/4/463/4259633" target="_blank">https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/4/4/463/4259633</a>
<a href="#_ednref6" name="_edn6" title="" id="_edn6">[6]</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0963996994900965" target="_blank">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0963996994900965</a>
<a href="#_ednref7" name="_edn7" title="" id="_edn7">[7]</a> <a href="https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2621.1999.00245.x" target="_blank">https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2621.1999.00245.x</a>
<a href="#_ednref8" name="_edn8" title="" id="_edn8">[8]</a> <a href="https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/104752" target="_blank">https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/104752</a>
<a href="#_ednref9" name="_edn9" title="" id="_edn9">[9]</a> <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2046-4053-2-67" target="_blank">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2046-4053-2-67</a>
<a href="#_ednref10" name="_edn10" title="" id="_edn10">[10]</a> <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/109/2/457/5307124" target="_blank">https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/109/2/457/5307124</a>
<a href="#_ednref11" name="_edn11" title="" id="_edn11">[11]</a> <a href="https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/child/malnutrition/en/" target="_blank">https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/child/malnutrition/en/</a>
<a href="#_ednref12" name="_edn12" title="" id="_edn12">[12]</a> <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6449/eaau4732" target="_blank">https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6449/eaau4732</a>
<a href="#_ednref13" name="_edn13" title="" id="_edn13">[13]</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28274163/" target="_blank">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28274163/</a>

Grand Challenges seeks pilot studies that investigate the biological effect of traditional locally fermented foods on key microbiome, gut, and health biomarkers in local populations. The goal is to provide investigators in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with the resources to build local capacity to investigate fermented foods as novel maternal nutrition interventions.

Integrating Tradition and Technology for Fermented Foods for Maternal Nutrition

<h2>THE OPPORTUNITY</h2>

At the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, we believe that malaria eradication within a generation is possible. We recognize that in order to achieve this, National Malaria Control Programs (NMCPs) must be empowered to use timely, high-quality data to inform their malaria strategic planning, decision-making, program implementation, and evaluation. As we work to sustain the decline in incidence rates that have marked the last fifteen years of malaria control, this concept of data-to-action has never been more important.

Our vision for data-to-action, recently endorsed by WHO’s Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC), is one of stratification and sub-national tailoring. In the first step, multiple data sources – from geospatial to epidemiological data – are used to define district-level strata within a country. Next, additional data types are used as the input to mathematical models that output the optimal package of interventions that result in maximum malaria burden reduction within a given resource envelope. The success of stratification and sub-national tailoring is highly dependent on the underlying data, which may not always be complete, high-quality, and / or timely. We are therefore exploring new data streams that might improve our understanding of factors driving changes in malaria epidemiology or be used to optimize the choice of interventions modelled. One of these new data streams is serological, genetic, and / or genomic data which arises from malaria molecular surveillance.

Malaria Molecular Surveillance (MMS) is an umbrella term which describes the use of molecular biology approaches – from serology to genotyping to whole genome sequencing (WGS) – to interrogate parasite and / or vector populations in order to derive epidemiologically actionable information. MMS does not include research-oriented genetic and genomic investigations, such as studies using genomics to investigate parasite or mosquito biology. Rather, the emphasis is on analyses that can directly influence malaria control policy and practice. In addition to the laboratory techniques used, MMS also includes the bioinformatics tools and resources necessary to process, interpret, and share the resulting data.

<h2>THE CHALLENGE</h2>

Initial work in the MMS space focused on methods development and proof-of-concept pilot studies. Now, the tools and analyses are maturing, the infrastructure is in place, and the time-to-result is much shorter, meaning that MMS is beginning to influence program planning and execution. In elimination settings, genetics has been deployed in focused investigations of malaria importations. In higher-burden settings, MMS is being used to visualize the spatio-temporal spread of antimalarial drug resistance markers, influencing treatment guidelines, and to track the effect of different interventions on parasite genetic diversity as a surrogate measure of transmission intensity.

In June 2019, a WHO Technical Consultation on the role of parasite and vector genetic and genomic data in malaria surveillance (<a href="https://www.who.int/malaria/mpac/mpac-october2019-session7-report-consultation-on-genomics.pdf" target="_blank">workshop report</a>), stakeholders from MMS community – both on the research and programmatic sides – gathered with the goal of identifying those MMS use cases for which sufficient evidence exists to recommend routine use for malaria control and elimination, and those for which more upstream research is needed in order to generate a broader evidence base for future recommendations.

The list of use cases that are ready or near ready (marked with an asterisk*) for programmatic deployment includes:

<ul>
	<li>Detect drug resistance: monitor the prevalence/frequency of molecular markers of drug resistance to inform intervention selection, treatment guidelines, and surveillance</li>
	<li>Detect hrp2/3 deletions: monitor the prevalence/frequency of hrp2/3 deletion affecting RDT efficacy to inform diagnostic selection</li>
	<li>Assess drug resistance gene flow: determine the origins of drug resistance markers and monitor their spread within/among regions and parasite populations to inform containment strategies and regional policies around intervention selection, treatment guidelines, and surveillance*</li>
	<li>Predict emerging resistance: detect signatures of positive selection suggesting emerging resistance to inform intervention selection, treatment guidelines, and surveillance*</li>
	<li>Identify local transmission: identify focal areas of high transmission and clusters of infections to inform resource deployment*</li>
	<li>Distinguish local and imported cases: in elimination settings, classify cases as imported or otherwise for case investigation and elimination certification*</li>
	<li>Reconstruct transmission chains: elucidate contributing factors (e.g. seasonality, migrants, asymptomatic cases, and highly infectious individuals) to ongoing transmission patterns to inform intervention selection, resource deployment, surveillance, and case investigation*</li>
	<li>Determine connectivity of parasite populations: assess degree to which transmission is linked among regions due to linked parasite populations to inform program planning and resource deployment*</li>
	<li>Survey for allelic variation in target sites for gene drive: determine whether SNPs that would prevent CRISPR site recognition exist in wild populations to optimize gene drive release planning*</li>
</ul>

As MMS transitions from proof-of-concept work in academic institutions to operational reality in NMCPs, Ministries of Health, and National Public Health Institutes, the challenge lies in conducting the work in a way that engages country programs and malaria decision-makers and that empowers them to understand and use their data actively for programmatic decision-making.

The purpose of this call is therefore to identify new and innovative approaches to integrating malaria molecular surveillance into malaria surveillance and programmatic decision-making in malaria endemic countries. 

What we are looking for:

We are looking for innovative proposals that will use MMS data to enable NMCPs to inform their national and sub-national surveillance efforts, national strategic planning, and/or intervention implementation. These may include proposals that: create or expand laboratory, bioinformatics, and data interpretation capacity within NMCPs or at institutions closely affiliated with an NMCP; create or implement tools for communicating and sharing parasite and/or vector molecular surveillance data; and/or build relationships between groups with MMS capacity and NMCP partners. Proposals should target the use cases identified above that are ready or near-to-ready for programmatic deployment. We do not want respondents to be generating MMS data for research purposes; rather, the intent of this call is to support the application of MMS approaches to routine malaria surveillance and planning within NMCPs, Ministries of Health, or similar organizations.

While we welcome respondents from around the world, we are particularly interested in proposals from respondents working in high-burden malaria settings. All proposals must include a principal investigator or co-investigator from a malaria-endemic country.

Winning proposals should:

<ul>
	<li>Explain the rationale for and potential benefits of using MMS data in their setting</li>
	<li>Address one or more of the use cases outlined in the Challenge section above</li>
	<li>Include representation from the NMCP, Ministry of Health (MOH) representation, government agency or healthcare provider responsible for malaria control in the country / region</li>
	<li>Describe how MMS information arising from the project will be shared with the NMCP, MOH and other key stakeholders</li>
</ul>

A few examples of work that would be considered for funding:

<ul>
	<li>Implementing or scaling-up a laboratory assay for hrp2/3 deletion and / or antimalarial drug resistance marker surveillance in partnership with an NMCP</li>
	<li>Developing a web interface or reporting tool for communicating molecular data to stakeholders who do not have genomics / bioinformatics experience</li>
	<li>Creating a bioinformatics workflow for MMS data that goes from fastq file to a readable report summarizing the analysis results in a user-friendly way</li>
	<li>Developing and implementing a training program to familiarize NMCP staff with the use and interpretation of MMS data</li>
</ul>

We will not consider funding for:

<ul>
	<li>Proposals that do not include an investigator from a malaria-endemic country</li>
	<li>Proposals that do not include an explicit partnership with the NMCP, MOH or other authority responsible for malaria surveillance and control in the country / region</li>
	<li>Proposals that do not demonstrate how the results will immediately influence malaria decision-making by the relevant NMCP, MOH or other authority</li>
</ul>

Grand Challenges Explorations

<h2>THE OPPORTUNITY</h2>
At the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, we believe that malaria eradication within a generation is possible. We recognize that in order to achieve this, National Malaria Control Programs (NMCPs) must be empowered to use timely, high-quality data to inform their malaria strategic planning, decision-making, program implementation, and evaluation. As we work to sustain the decline in incidence rates that have marked the last fifteen years of malaria control, this concept of data-to-action has never been more important.
Our vision for data-to-action, recently endorsed by WHO’s Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC), is one of stratification and sub-national tailoring. In the first step, multiple data sources – from geospatial to epidemiological data – are used to define district-level strata within a country. Next, additional data types are used as the input to mathematical models that output the optimal package of interventions that result in maximum malaria burden reduction within a given resource envelope. The success of stratification and sub-national tailoring is highly dependent on the underlying data, which may not always be complete, high-quality, and / or timely. We are therefore exploring new data streams that might improve our understanding of factors driving changes in malaria epidemiology or be used to optimize the choice of interventions modelled. One of these new data streams is serological, genetic, and / or genomic data which arises from malaria molecular surveillance.
Malaria Molecular Surveillance (MMS) is an umbrella term which describes the use of molecular biology approaches – from serology to genotyping to whole genome sequencing (WGS) – to interrogate parasite and / or vector populations in order to derive epidemiologically actionable information. MMS does not include research-oriented genetic and genomic investigations, such as studies using genomics to investigate parasite or mosquito biology. Rather, the emphasis is on analyses that can directly influence malaria control policy and practice. In addition to the laboratory techniques used, MMS also includes the bioinformatics tools and resources necessary to process, interpret, and share the resulting data.
<h2>THE CHALLENGE</h2>
Initial work in the MMS space focused on methods development and proof-of-concept pilot studies. Now, the tools and analyses are maturing, the infrastructure is in place, and the time-to-result is much shorter, meaning that MMS is beginning to influence program planning and execution. In elimination settings, genetics has been deployed in focused investigations of malaria importations. In higher-burden settings, MMS is being used to visualize the spatio-temporal spread of antimalarial drug resistance markers, influencing treatment guidelines, and to track the effect of different interventions on parasite genetic diversity as a surrogate measure of transmission intensity.
In June 2019, a WHO Technical Consultation on the role of parasite and vector genetic and genomic data in malaria surveillance (<a href="https://www.who.int/malaria/mpac/mpac-october2019-session7-report-consultation-on-genomics.pdf" target="_blank">workshop report</a>), stakeholders from MMS community – both on the research and programmatic sides – gathered with the goal of identifying those MMS use cases for which sufficient evidence exists to recommend routine use for malaria control and elimination, and those for which more upstream research is needed in order to generate a broader evidence base for future recommendations.
The list of use cases that are ready or near ready (marked with an asterisk*) for programmatic deployment includes:
<ul><li>Detect drug resistance: monitor the prevalence/frequency of molecular markers of drug resistance to inform intervention selection, treatment guidelines, and surveillance</li>
<li>Detect hrp2/3 deletions: monitor the prevalence/frequency of hrp2/3 deletion affecting RDT efficacy to inform diagnostic selection</li>
<li>Assess drug resistance gene flow: determine the origins of drug resistance markers and monitor their spread within/among regions and parasite populations to inform containment strategies and regional policies around intervention selection, treatment guidelines, and surveillance*</li>
<li>Predict emerging resistance: detect signatures of positive selection suggesting emerging resistance to inform intervention selection, treatment guidelines, and surveillance*</li>
<li>Identify local transmission: identify focal areas of high transmission and clusters of infections to inform resource deployment*</li>
<li>Distinguish local and imported cases: in elimination settings, classify cases as imported or otherwise for case investigation and elimination certification*</li>
<li>Reconstruct transmission chains: elucidate contributing factors (e.g. seasonality, migrants, asymptomatic cases, and highly infectious individuals) to ongoing transmission patterns to inform intervention selection, resource deployment, surveillance, and case investigation*</li>
<li>Determine connectivity of parasite populations: assess degree to which transmission is linked among regions due to linked parasite populations to inform program planning and resource deployment*</li>
<li>Survey for allelic variation in target sites for gene drive: determine whether SNPs that would prevent CRISPR site recognition exist in wild populations to optimize gene drive release planning*</li>
</ul>As MMS transitions from proof-of-concept work in academic institutions to operational reality in NMCPs, Ministries of Health, and National Public Health Institutes, the challenge lies in conducting the work in a way that engages country programs and malaria decision-makers and that empowers them to understand and use their data actively for programmatic decision-making.
The purpose of this call is therefore to identify new and innovative approaches to integrating malaria molecular surveillance into malaria surveillance and programmatic decision-making in malaria endemic countries. 
What we are looking for:
We are looking for innovative proposals that will use MMS data to enable NMCPs to inform their national and sub-national surveillance efforts, national strategic planning, and/or intervention implementation. These may include proposals that: create or expand laboratory, bioinformatics, and data interpretation capacity within NMCPs or at institutions closely affiliated with an NMCP; create or implement tools for communicating and sharing parasite and/or vector molecular surveillance data; and/or build relationships between groups with MMS capacity and NMCP partners. Proposals should target the use cases identified above that are ready or near-to-ready for programmatic deployment. We do not want respondents to be generating MMS data for research purposes; rather, the intent of this call is to support the application of MMS approaches to routine malaria surveillance and planning within NMCPs, Ministries of Health, or similar organizations.
While we welcome respondents from around the world, we are particularly interested in proposals from respondents working in high-burden malaria settings. All proposals must include a principal investigator or co-investigator from a malaria-endemic country.
Winning proposals should:
<ul><li>Explain the rationale for and potential benefits of using MMS data in their setting</li>
<li>Address one or more of the use cases outlined in the Challenge section above</li>
<li>Include representation from the NMCP, Ministry of Health (MOH) representation, government agency or healthcare provider responsible for malaria control in the country / region</li>
<li>Describe how MMS information arising from the project will be shared with the NMCP, MOH and other key stakeholders</li>
</ul>A few examples of work that would be considered for funding:
<ul><li>Implementing or scaling-up a laboratory assay for hrp2/3 deletion and / or antimalarial drug resistance marker surveillance in partnership with an NMCP</li>
<li>Developing a web interface or reporting tool for communicating molecular data to stakeholders who do not have genomics / bioinformatics experience</li>
<li>Creating a bioinformatics workflow for MMS data that goes from fastq file to a readable report summarizing the analysis results in a user-friendly way</li>
<li>Developing and implementing a training program to familiarize NMCP staff with the use and interpretation of MMS data</li>
</ul>We will not consider funding for:
<ul><li>Proposals that do not include an investigator from a malaria-endemic country</li>
<li>Proposals that do not include an explicit partnership with the NMCP, MOH or other authority responsible for malaria surveillance and control in the country / region</li>
<li>Proposals that do not demonstrate how the results will immediately influence malaria decision-making by the relevant NMCP, MOH or other authority</li>
</ul>

Grand Challenges Explorations seeks new and innovative approaches to integrating molecular surveillance into malaria surveillance and programmatic decision-making in malaria endemic countries. Malaria molecular surveillance encompasses the use of molecular biology approaches to interrogate parasite or vector populations to derive epidemiologically actionable information.

New Approaches to Integrating Molecular Surveillance into Malaria Control Programs (Round 26)

Note: Please see the request for proposals document with additional background as a PDF file on the right.
<h2>Summary</h2>
Smart Farming Innovations for Small-Scale Producers Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks Smart Farming solutions that leverage digital technology innovations that have the potential to drive positive impact for smallscale producer (SSP) entrepreneurs delivered through bundled farmer services and enabled by scalable digital and data platforms (<a href="#Fig1" id="_Fig1">Figure 1</a>). Solutions should address one or more challenges faced by smallscale crop and livestock producers in one or more areas of agricultural advisory, farm management decision support, input supply, finance, insurance, market access and linkages. Solutions should use human-centered design to elucidate the barriers that prevent SSPs from improving productivity, profitability and income – then propose Smart Farming solutions that can help elevate smallscale production entrepreneurs. Some of the fundamental challenges to address include: 1) low productivity driven by lack of access to information and services; climate change, weather variability and pest and disease outbreaks; 2) lack of access to tailored financial and insurance products, and 3) lack of access to and choice of market and offtake options. Additionally, solutions will need to consider barriers to adoption of digital farmer services, such as low language and digital literacy, the high relative cost of services and devices and, in particular, gender gaps and other potential downsides of digital solutions (e.g. the growing digital divide).
<img alt="" height="406" src="https://stage-drupal.grandchallenges.org/sites/default/files/images/farming-digital-technologies-diagram.jpg" width="414" />
<a href="#_Fig1" id="Fig1">Figure 1</a>. Smart Farming Innovations for SSPs
Awards: There are two grant types – Seed Grants and Scale-Up Grants – each with its own requirements. Applicants can only apply for one of these grant types must select which level for which they are applying (proposal should not be submitted for both grant types).
Seed Grants – Up to USD 250,000 to be implemented up to 12 months. Seed Grants are proposals for Smart Farming solutions that can demonstrate potential in meeting the following criteria:
<ul><li>Leveraging digital technology innovations with the potential to scale, for example, utilizing a proven technology that has been applied in agriculture in another geography; transferring a technology from another sector such as health, infrastructure or finance; sourcing an entirely new technology;</li>
<li>Show potential to improve SSP incomes, productivity and ability to adapt to climate change;</li>
<li>Address barriers to scaled adoption of digital services, such as access, affordability and language and digital literacy. This includes addressing women's access to digital services and closing the digital divide between those who have access and marginalized populations who do not;</li>
<li>Have the potential to be bundled with multiple farmer-facing services into an integrated solution;</li>
<li>Are enabled by robust digital and data technology platforms and services;</li>
<li>Provide fit-for-purpose solutions (e.g. developed using human-centered design) for SSP enterprises who seek to sell a portion of production to markets;</li>
<li>Show potential to be scaled using a sustainable business model and are affordable and able to provide positive return on investment at a smallholder farm level through successful pilots, scaling partners, or higher volume production driving down prices.</li>
</ul>Scale-Up Grants – Up to USD 1,500,000 to be implemented up to 24 months. Scale-Up Grants are proposals with demonstrated ability and sufficient evidence to have positive impact. In addition to the criteria listed above for Seed Grants, Scale-Up Grants must also:
<ul><li>Leverage digital technology innovations with demonstrated readiness to scale and proven ability to bundle with other services;</li>
<li>Meet all criteria regarding technology innovations, scalable platforms, and sustainable bundled service delivery models;</li>
<li>Demonstrate that additional funding will enable value capture by SSPs or other value chain actors and sustainable and viable service delivery models over the long term.</li>
<li>Please upload a separate document – 1 additional page maximum – that describes your partner consortium in more detail, including the various partners' capabilities, and additional evidence of value add, income, productivity, women's empowerment and long-term sustainability of the solution.</li>
</ul>Consortiums: To increase the probability that projects funded through this RFP will continue after the initial project completion and evolve into a continuing global public good or sustained solution, applicants are encouraged to consider of a range of partners to form a consortium. This investment will prioritize those who partner with organizations interested in Smart Farming in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as long-term opportunities. There are several types of organizations we envisage being part of consortia submitting proposals: Enterprise Technology Platforms (Big-Tech), Enterprise Agriculture (Big-Ag), Ag-Tech Startups (Ag-Tech + Farm-Tech), Research Organizations (R&amp;D), national and international NGOs and farmer-based organizations (Implementors), Government and International Organizations.
Geographies: While we primarily seek solutions applicable to the LMICs listed below and favor those forming local partnerships. Other geographies will be considered if a strong case is made for doing so.
<ul><li>Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Nigeria</li>
<li>Asia: India (Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh), Bangladesh</li>
</ul>

Grand Challenges seeks innovative digital solutions with potential to scale and integrate with bundled farmer services. Solutions should address one or more challenges facing small scale crop and livestock producer entrepreneurs in the areas of agricultural advisory, input supply, finance, insurance, market access, and decision support tools.