Grand Challenges Canada Announces Canadian Rising Stars in Global Health

Request For Proposals

VANCOUVER, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - Grand Challenges Canada CEO Peter A. Singer announced today the Canadian Rising Stars in Global Health requests for proposals.  This unique program is a call to action for young Canadian scientists to make their contribution to global health.  Grand Challenges Canada's goal is to tap into the creativity, knowledge and skills of young Canadian Scientists to solve some of the most persistent health challenges in the developing world through Integrated Innovation.

"There is tremendous untapped potential amongst our country's young scientists to solve some of the key health challenges in the developing world," said Peter A. Singer.  "This is a great opportunity for these Canadian rising stars - who have the skills and the passion - to innovate solutions to save lives and contribute to Canada's growing leadership role in global health."  Canada is the first country to use a grand challenges approach in foreign aid.

In low and middle-income countries, there are staggering health inequities.  Every year close to 8 million children die of preventable causes.  Life expectancy is under 40 years in parts of the developing world while in Canada it is over 80 years. The conditions are urgent.  Canadians have the research and technological know-how to make a difference and through Integrated Innovation bring long-term sustainable change to these countries and their people.

Up to $20 million Canadian is available for this program.  Grand Challenges will accept full proposals for the first competition until March 2011.  Full proposals will include a videotaped segment outlining the health problem, the proposed answer and why it is a creative and bold solution.  The Canadians will be encouraged to involve developing world scientists to participate in creating the discovery.  This collaboration between Canadian and developing world scientists will be required to secure larger $1 million grants in the scale-up phase of the program.

"This is a great opportunity for Canadian scientists," said Alain Beaudet, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  "We, as Canadians, have so much to offer and Grand Challenges Canada's program is a unique and effective way to unleash the power of emerging talent in our scientific community."

The Request for Proposals encourages Canadian scientists to go to the heart of the most difficult global health challenges, and to integrate scientific, social and business innovations - an approach developed by Grand Challenges Canada known as 'Integrated Innovation.'  Potential solutions will address barriers to health and will be relevant to situations where they are most needed. For example, solutions for people living in remote areas where there is an absence of basic health care or clinics.  The technologies that are developed will need to be administered with minimal training and could potentially leverage existing technologies like cell phones. A further key requirement, the discoveries must be affordable and easily accepted culturally.

There will be a significant public dimension to Canadian Rising Stars in Global Health.  The public will be encouraged to vote on their favourite proposal by viewing the videos submitted by the scientists.

The money to fund this program will come from the Development Innovation Fund (DIF). In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada committed $225 million over five years to the DIF, to support the best minds in the world in a collaborative search for solutions to global health challenges.

Grand Challenges Canada was created to implement the realization of this goal working with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Crown Corporation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), a Government of Canada Agency.

For more information, visit grandchallenges.ca

About Grand Challenges Canada
Grand Challenges Canada is a unique independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of people in developing countries by integrating scientific, technological, business and social innovation.  Grand Challenges Canada works with the International Development Research Institute (IDRC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR )and other global health foundations and organizations to find sustainable long-term solutions to the most pressing health challenges.  Grand Challenges Canada is hosted at the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health.  www.grandchallenges.ca

About Canada's International Development Research Centre
IDRC supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. IDRC also encourages sharing this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most. www.idrc.ca

About Canadian Institutes of Health Research
For the past 10 years, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has supported better health and health care for Canadians. As the Government of Canada's health research investment agency, CIHR enables the creation of evidence-based knowledge and its transformation into improved treatments, prevention and diagnoses, new products and services, and a stronger, patient-oriented health-care system. Composed of 13 internationally recognized Institutes, CIHR supports more than 13,600 health researchers and trainees across Canada. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca  

About McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health
The McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health is based at University Health Network and University of Toronto.  We develop and evaluate new models of global health innovation and, working with partners, facilitate their adoption where they are most urgently needed.  The McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health hosts Grand Challenges Canada.  www.mrcglobal.org

For further information:

Media Contact

Lyn Whitham
Grand Challenges Canada
[phone]
[email protected]