Bill& Melinda to give $ 50 million to 14 African scientists

African Scientists from 14 countries are to benefit from a $ 50 Million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, funds that will support cutting-edge science in low- and middle-income countries and help end the COVID-19 crisis.

This commitment was made at the 2021 Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, which took place November 8-11, 2021.

The foundation commits an initial $50 million towards a new 10-year program and awards science leadership fellowships to 14 African scientists.

Representatives from Kenya are among beneficiaries of a $50 Million grant from the Bill & Belinda Gates Foundation to support science and innovation.

Other representatives to be funded are from South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Zimbabwe, Brazil and India.

The Grand Challenges Global Call to Action programme is a 10-year initiative designed to ensure scientists and institutions in 14 selected countries play a central role in shaping the global research and development agenda and in developing solutions that meet the needs of their communities.

To further support scientists who are developing the innovations needed to end the pandemic and address urgent global health priorities, the foundation announced the first cohort of the Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship program on the second day of the meeting (November 9).

Named after the late Calestous Juma, one of the world’s foremost visionaries in African-led science, the fellowship was launched at last year’s annual meeting to support the next generation of scientific leaders in Africa.

The inaugural cohort includes 14 fellows from eight African countries—eight women and six men—who are leading projects that range from computational drug discovery to molecular epidemiology.

Each fellow will receive up to $1 million over five years.
The Grand Challenges Annual Meeting is a global forum for researchers around the world to share their work, learn about cutting-edge advances in their field, and collaborate with other investigators and organisations.

This year’s programme prioritises scientists and supports a balanced representation of African women principal investigators and researchers.

The Gates Foundation said the programme will focus on data science — such as mathematical modelling to inform national malaria control programmes, digital health services for pregnant women and innovations to close gaps identified by current programmes for eliminating neglected tropical diseases.

CEO Mark Suzman said the foundation will also launch the Global Immunology and Immune Sequencing for Epidemic Response (GIISER) programme to ensure scientists have the capacity to rapidly detect new SARS-CoV-2 variants that show signs of evading the immune response.

African Countries will use the grant to expand immunological capacity

The foundation will provide $7 million over two years to investigative teams in eight African countries (South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Brazil and India) to expand their existing immunological capacity.

The organisation will also support the first cohort of the Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship, which was launched last year to support the next generation of scientific leaders in Africa.

The Grand Challenges Annual Meeting is a global forum for researchers around the world to share their work, learn about cutting-edge advances in their field, and collaborate with other investigators and organisations.

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