The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced the launch of initiatives to advance locally led innovations that assist scientists and researchers in developing economies.

The announcement, made at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, includes two initiatives as part of the Grand Challenges Global Call to Action, a 10-year effort to ensure that scientists and institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) play a central role in shaping the global research and development agenda. The Pathogen Genomic Surveillance and Immunology in Asia initiative will support investigators in South and Southeast Asia in designing and piloting a genomic surveillance program or developing capacity for immunology and immune sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to inform epidemic response; and the Building Data Modeling Capacity for Gender Equality initiative will support projects aimed at addressing disparities and gaps affecting women and girls in health. In addition, the foundation announced it will award grants to researchers investigating and detecting emerging pathogens in LMICs in partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

“Health equity shouldn't just be a statement of why we do this work. It should guide how we do it,” said Gates Foundation deputy director of Global Partnerships & Grand Challenges Kedest Tesfagiorgis. “When we support locally led innovation, we maximize impact by bringing different kinds of knowledge and perspectives to the fore.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Sanjeri)