Time for new ideas and fresh faces

Editorials in several journals today: Global health is too important to be left to global health experts. That is why a new initiative announced by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Cape Town on Oct 9 is welcome. The initiative, a 5-year US$100 million grant programme called Grand Challenges Explorations, will provide hundreds of small start-up grants to researchers who come forward with promising new ideas to tackle key problems in global health. The initiative is modelled on the investment strategies favoured by venture capitalists. Initial grants will be about $100 000 but more funds will become available if projects show progress.