Up to 800,000 Dollars Is Available for Diagnostic Platforms That Measure Nutrition and Infection Together

The Grand Challenges Micronutrient Grant is currently accepting applications to fund the development of point-of-care multiplex platforms capable of measuring key micronutrient status indicators, inflammation markers, and infectious disease biomarkers from a single biological sample. Applications close on 8 September 2026 at 11:30 US Pacific Time.

Diagnostic multiplex platforms streamline complex blood testing.. Source: Scripps Health

Institutions based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—including African universities, national research institutes, and healthtech diagnostic startups—are strongly encouraged to apply, either as lead applicants or primary consortium partners.

Core Problem & Technical Scope

Accurately assessing micronutrient deficiencies in developing populations remains a persistent diagnostic hurdle because acute inflammation and active infections skew biomarker readings. For instance, a child suffering from a acute infection may present false indicators of iron deficiency or appear deceptively well-nourished on standard assays.

To overcome these confounders, the Grand Challenges Micronutrient Grant funds multiplex technologies designed to simultaneous measure confounders alongside nutritional status, specifically targeting extended analytical coverage for:

• Target Vitamins: Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B9 (folate), and Vitamin B12 (cobalamin).

• Confounder Markers: Inflammatory proteins (e.g., C-reactive protein, AGP) and infectious disease biomarkers evaluated in tandem.

Funding Tracks & Budget Structure

Applicants can tailor their proposal to match their institutional delivery capacity across two distinct funding tracks:

Eligibility Criteria

• Entity Types: Nonprofit organizations, for-profit commercial companies, government agencies, international entities, and academic research institutions.

• Corporate Status: Applicants must operate through a legally recognized corporate entity capable of receiving and administering grant funding.

• Geographic Preference: Open globally, but explicitly prioritizes proposals led by or substantially partnering with LMIC-based institutions across Africa and Asia.

Application Strategy & How to Apply

Proposals must be created and submitted online via the official Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges submission portal prior to the September 8 deadline.

For African research organizations, deciding whether to serve as the prime applicant or a technical co-partner is the key strategic choice. While serving as the lead institution ensures direct budget oversight and intellectual property (IP) retention, partnering with an established assay developer offers a strong technical edge. Organizations should establish partner agreements early to allow sufficient time for proposal alignment and budget preparation.