Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Grand Challenges

Ending the Pandemic Threat: A Grand Challenge for Universal Influenza Vaccine Development

The goal of this Grand Challenge is to identify novel, transformative concepts that will lead to development of universal influenza vaccines offering protection from morbidity and mortality caused by all subtypes of circulating and emerging (drifted and shifted) Influenza A subtype viruses and Influenza B lineage viruses for at least three to five years. It is envisaged that such a universal influenza vaccine would address the threat from both seasonal and pandemic influenza, thus alleviating the need for annual seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns, averting significant global morbidity and mortality, and better preparing the world for the next influenza pandemic.

Funding: $250,000 up to $ 2 million for 2 years (15% overhead)