A global health program launched by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is expecting to hear and provide fund for creative ideas of researchers worldwide, including those from China.

"We are expecting more applications from Chinese talents for Round Five of Grand Challenges Explorations," said Tachi Yamada, president of the Global health Program at the Gates Foundation.

Grand Challenges Explorations is a US$100 million grant initiative to encourage innovation in global health research.

Round five of the program focuses on creative ideas on low-cost cell phone-based applications for priority global health conditions, new technologies for the health of mothers and newborns, protection against infectious disease, and new technologies for contraception.

Proposals are being accepted through May 19, 2010, Yamada said.

According to Yamada, the Gates Foundation and an independent group of reviewers would select the most innovative proposals, and would offer an initial grant of US$100,000 for each selected proposal.

Projects showing success would have the opportunity to receive additional funding up to US$1 million.

In the first round of the program launched in 2008, two Chinese scientists had already received US$100,000 each for their novel ideas on fighting tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, Yamada said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2010)