Bill Gates sponsors 'crazy' science ideas.

On October 20, Bill Gates' Bill & Melinda Gates (BMGF) pledged $ 168 million to boost scientific research activities that could help change the world. Of the more than 70 ideas received by the fund, there are research plans that amaze the public.

Different ideas

A large number of young scientists have many new ideas in the fight against infectious diseases, studying vaccines . but having difficulty finding funding has received the backing of billionaire Bill Gates. . On October 20, more than 70 bold scientific ideas were agreed to grant research grants by BMGF.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is being used for many purposes.

Many research ideas are really bold. For example, the case of Udantha Abeyratne at the University of Queensland (Australia), who proposed using a mobile phone to analyze and diagnose pneumonia. The phone will be equipped with software to record coughs, breathing, and then analyze and give diagnostic parameters to see if the person just said has pneumonia.

The same is the idea of ​​Margaret Njoroge at Uganda Biomedical Research Laboratory - proposing the development of a malaria vaccine specifically for mothers. This vaccine will produce antibodies against malaria in breast milk and be given to babies when they are breastfed.

Among the young scientists who have the most strange ideas are Andrew Fung at the University of California (USA). Raymond hopes to produce a type of gum that can help detect malaria early when patients . chew. Or as Ranjan Nanda of the International Center for Genetic Change and Biotechnology in India, the author of the idea of ​​creating an electronic nose to collect and analyze human breaths to identify tuberculosis.

Change thinking

Each of these 'crazy' projects will receive an initial grant of about $ 100,000 from BMFG as part of the Grand Challenges Explorations program. These people will have the opportunity to receive $ 1 million in funding if their project is successful.

In contrast to the usual funding modalities, BMGF does not require applicants to have large projects. In order to receive funding, they only need to present a 2-page application, suggesting the idea of ​​research and do not need to have initial data to prove the practicality of the idea. BMGF hopes this approach will encourage the most 'crazy' scientific ideas, which have not yet been proven or approached by anyone.

'In thinking there are times when we need a revolution instead of a gradual process. The problem is that we are locked into orthodox ways. That prevents us from thinking in new ways of thinking '- Dr. Tachi Yamada, BMGF's Health Care Program President and a member of the Selection Committee for ideas and explanations.

Yamada said he and Bill Gates, also on the Selection Committee, accepted the fact that 90% of ideas may fail. There are even those who deliberately spend money on the temple. However, the success rate of very small ideas is encouraging.

'We believe that a real innovation is necessary. Some ideas seem far-fetched but there is a pretty clear line between madness and completely new things' - he said.

Encourage young people

In May this year, BMGF also gave money to more than 80 special scientific research projects, with unique ideas such as producing tomatoes containing antibiotics, chickens against influenza, and handheld devices that detect parasites. malaria in the blood. It is also the idea of ​​transforming female mosquitoes so that they do not seek human burning, using cows that have been vaccinated against malaria, so that when mosquitoes suck cow's blood, it will be destroyed or lost the ability to transmit disease, use laser to increase the effectiveness of drugs .

It is worth noting that during the new grant, many young scientists were selected. This can be considered a major change in thinking in scientific research activities because in the past, the beneficiaries were often just experienced researchers. Yamada said that young scientists have a lot of opportunities to receive support from BMGF.

According to Andrew Serazin, director of the BMGF Global Health Program, every candidate has the opportunity to receive funding. 'Anyone can apply for funding and we will evaluate the ideas of a Nobel laureate on par with a high school student. The great thing is we can approach young researchers who are often excluded from research funding review processes' - he said.

It is known that this is the third time Grand Challenges Explorations program has provided funding to researchers. So far, 262 researchers representing 30 countries have received funding. This round of funding focuses on researching inexpensive measures to detect infectious diseases, means to detect and treat malaria, new vaccines and ways to strengthen the human body's immune system. .