Projects by Disease

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BROWSE THE GRAND CHALLENGES:

Disease Priorities

The Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative supports research to address a variety of diseases and conditions that affect the developing world. Due to the cross-cutting nature of these technologies, many projects are applicable to multiple diseases or conditions not listed here. Search projects related to each of the following disease areas:

HIV / AIDS		Malaria
Other Infectious Diseases		Pneumonia
Poor Nutrition		Tuberculosis
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

HIV / AIDS:

Grand Challenges projects support the development of vaccines and other tools that have potential to prevent tens of millions of infections and deaths from HIV/AIDS.

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 3

Surface Modified Nanostructures as Delivery Vehicles for Transmucosal Vaccination

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 3

Nanoemulsions as Adjuvants for Nasal Spray Vaccines

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 3

Needle Free Vaccination Via Nanoparticle Aerosols

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 3

Development of a Targeted Mucosal Vaccine Delivery Technology

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 3

Needle Free Delivery of Stable, Respirable Powder Vaccine

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 4

Novel Mouse Models for Testing HIV and HCV Vaccines

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 4

Development of Novel Mouse Models for HIV and HCV Infection

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 4

A Humanized Mouse Model to Evaluate Live Attenuated Vaccine Candidates

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 5

Enhancing the Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Vectored Vaccines

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 5

Novel Antigen Design and Delivery for Mucosal Protection Against HIV-1 Infection

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 5

Improved Vaccine Efficacy via Dendritic Cells and Flavivirus Vectors

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 6

Biomarkers of Protective Immunity Against TB in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Africa

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 6

Comprehensive Studies of Mechanisms of HIV Resistance in Highly Exposed Uninfected Women

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 6

Molecular Analysis and Modeling of HIV 1 Transmission, Containment, and Escape

GOAL 5 | CHALLENGE 10

Natural Products Inhibit Intracellular Microorganisms Via Cellular Mechanisms

GOAL 6 | CHALLENGE 12

Immunological Strategies for Curing Chronic Hepatitis Virus Infections

GOAL 6 | CHALLENGE 12

Engineering Immunity Against HIV and other Dangerous Pathogens

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 13

Population Health Metrics Research Consortium Project

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 14

Integrated Rapid Test Platforms Appropriate for the Developing World

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Malaria:

This insect-borne disease kills more than 1 million people annually. Promising projects include development of vaccines to prevent malaria and genetic strategies to reduce or incapacitate populations of disease-transmitting insects.

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 5

Enhancing the Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Vectored Vaccines

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 5

Protective Genetically Attenuated P. Falciparum Sporozoite Vaccine

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 5

Improved Vaccine Efficacy via Dendritic Cells and Flavivirus Vectors

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 6

Protective Immunity Against Severe Malaria in Young Children

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 6

Learning From the Human Genome How Protective Immunity Against Malaria Works

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 7

Homing Endonuclease Genes: New Tools for Mosquito Population Engineering and Control

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 7

Establishing Dengue Virus Refractoriness in Natural Populations of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 8

Molecular Approaches to Alter Olfactory Driven Behaviors of Insect Disease Vectors

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 8

Molecular Design of Selective Anticholinesterases for Mosquito Control

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 8

Disruption of Malaria Transmission by Chemical Manipulation of Anopheline Olfactory Responses

GOAL 5 | CHALLENGE 10

Novel Therapeutics that Boost Innate Immunity to Treat Infectious Diseases

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 13

Population Health Metrics Research Consortium Project

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 14

A Point-of-Care Diagnostic System for the Developing World

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 14

Integrated Rapid Test Platforms Appropriate for the Developing World

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Other Infectious Diseases:

Several Grand Challenges projects have implications for a range of diseases and viruses, including dengue fever and the Epstein-Barr virus. Promising research includes methods to prevent insect-borne diseases, fight drug resistance, and cure latent infections.

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 1

Linking Innate and Specific Immunity to Develop Single Dose Vaccines for Neonates

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 2

Optimization of Vaccine Stability Through High Throughput Formulation

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 2

Thermostable Vaccines with Improved Stability at Non Refrigerated Temperatures

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 2

Bacterial Spores as Vaccine Delivery Systems

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 3

Needle Free Vaccination Via Nanoparticle Aerosols

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 7

Homing Endonuclease Genes: New Tools for Mosquito Population Engineering and Control

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 7

Genetic Strategies for Control of Dengue Virus Transmission

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 7

Modifying Mosquito Population Age Structure to Eliminate Dengue Transmission

GOAL 3 | CHALLENGE 8

Molecular Approaches to Alter Olfactory Driven Behaviors of Insect Disease Vectors

GOAL 5 | CHALLENGE 10

Novel Therapeutics that Boost Innate Immunity to Treat Infectious Diseases

GOAL 6 | CHALLENGE 12

Novel Therapeutic Vaccines for Acute and Persistent Papillomavirus Infections

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 13

Population Health Metrics Research Consortium Project

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 14

A Point-of-Care Diagnostic System for the Developing World

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 14

Integrated Rapid Test Platforms Appropriate for the Developing World

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Pneumonia:

Respiratory illnesses like pneumonia kill 2 million young children every year. Learn about research into easier-to-use vaccines that might help save lives.

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 1

A Live Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Anti Pneumococcal Vaccine for Newborns

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 2

Bacterial Spores as Vaccine Delivery Systems

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 6

Immunity to Prevent Pneumococcal Transmission: Correlates of Protection and Herd Immunity

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 13

Population Health Metrics Research Consortium Project

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 14

Integrated Rapid Test Platforms Appropriate for the Developing World

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Poor Nutrition:

To address a key problem for many of the world’s poorest people, Grand Challenges projects are studying ways to improve nutrition by creating nutrient-rich staple crops that can be grown in harsh climates.

GOAL 4 | CHALLENGE 9

Nutritionally Enhanced Sorghum for the Arid and Semi Arid Tropical Areas of Africa

GOAL 4 | CHALLENGE 9

Engineering Rice for High Beta Carotene, Vitamin E and Enhanced Fe and Zn Bioavailability

GOAL 4 | CHALLENGE 9

Optimisation of Bioavailable Nutrients in Transgenic Bananas

GOAL 4 | CHALLENGE 9

Improving Cassava for Nutrition, Health, and Sustainable Development

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 13

Population Health Metrics Research Consortium Project

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 14

Integrated Rapid Test Platforms Appropriate for the Developing World

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Tuberculosis:

Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) now kills one person every 18 seconds. Promising research includes improving vaccines and how they are delivered, developing strategies for fighting TB’s increasing drug-resistance, and pursuing therapies to cure latent infections.

GOAL 2 | CHALLENGE 6

Biomarkers of Protective Immunity Against TB in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Africa

GOAL 5 | CHALLENGE 10

Novel Therapeutics that Boost Innate Immunity to Treat Infectious Diseases

GOAL 5 | CHALLENGE 10

Natural Products Inhibit Intracellular Microorganisms Via Cellular Mechanisms

GOAL 6 | CHALLENGE 11

Drugs for Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection

GOAL 6 | CHALLENGE 12

Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation of a Post Exposure TB Vaccine

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 13

Population Health Metrics Research Consortium Project

GOAL 7 | CHALLENGE 14

Integrated Rapid Test Platforms Appropriate for the Developing World

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Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:

Hepatitis B, Hepatitus hepatitis C, pertussis, measles, rotavirus, and diphtheria are still widespread in the developing world. Research into single-dose vaccines, vaccines that don’t require refrigeration, and needle-free delivery has have the potential to save millions of lives.

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 1

Linking Innate and Specific Immunity to Develop Single Dose Vaccines for Neonates

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 2

Optimization of Vaccine Stability Through High Throughput Formulation

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 2

Thermostable Vaccines with Improved Stability at Non Refrigerated Temperatures

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 2

Bacterial Spores as Vaccine Delivery Systems

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 3

Surface Modified Nanostructures as Delivery Vehicles for Transmucosal Vaccination

GOAL 1 | CHALLENGE 3

Nanoemulsions as Adjuvants for Nasal Spray Vaccines