Introduction:
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in collaboration with the Grand Challenges Network, seeks innovative proposals to develop adjunct technologies that enhance sample collection and processing for the diagnosis of HIV and tuberculosis (TB).

General Description:
The call focuses on developing innovative solutions for sample collection, preparation, and lysis without the need for complex instruments. The specific objectives include:

• Self-Sample Blood Collection Devices: Solutions must enable phlebotomist-free collection of at least 1 mL of whole blood, with sample stability for at least 24 hours at temperatures up to 40°C and humidity up to 70%.
• Sample Collection for MTB: Solutions must enable consistent specimen biomass collection without pipetting, with sample stability for up to 72 hours at temperatures up to 40°C and humidity up to 70%.
• Sample Preparation Devices for HIV Detection: Solutions could include aspects such as sample clean-up, filtration, plasma/serum generation, and analyte concentration, with sample stability for at least 24 hours at temperatures up to 40°C and humidity up to 70%.
• Sample Lysis Devices for TB: Devices must demonstrate MTB cell inactivation and lysis without reusable instruments, with lysate stability for up to 72 hours at temperatures up to 40°C and humidity up to 70%.

Awards of $100,000 to $250,000 USD for each project, with a grant term of up to 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria

This initiative is open to nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions. We particularly encourage applications involving projects led by women or from women-led organizations and applications from institutions based in low- and middle-income countries.

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