Gates Foundation Grant Opportunity - Development of Immunity Assessment Tool

StephenW

Dear colleagues:

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is now accepting Letters of Inquiry for the development of an easy-to-use tool that rapidly assesses the immune status of children against select vaccine-preventable diseases. Inquiries will be welcome that focus on prototype development and detail plans for future commercialization possibilities. Applicants can be at any experience level; in any discipline; and from any organization, including colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations and for profit companies.

Letters of Inquiry are being accepted online until 10:00 AM Pacific Time, March 27, 2012. A full description of the Request for Letter of Inquiry and application instructions are available at: www.gatesfoundation.org/vaccines/Pages/rfp-immunity-assessment-tool.aspx.

The Gates Foundation is focused on ensuring that all children in the developing world receive a full complement of available vaccines, protecting them against a range of vaccine-preventable diseases. The Foundation endorses and strives for the goal outlined by the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS), of at least 90% vaccination coverage in every country, and at least 80% coverage in every district. Regular measurement of vaccination coverage across the developing world is important to measure progress against immunization goals, and to identify areas of weakness in delivery systems so that corrective action can be taken. Current tools and processes to measure vaccination coverage have significant limitations, leading to estimates of coverage with questionable precision.

We are looking forward to receiving innovative ideas from around the world to develop an immunity assessment tool that can help more accurately measure vaccination coverage in the developing world.

Thank you for your commitment to solving the world's greatest health challenges.

---

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.