LONDON, ON – Lawson Health Research Institute announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Gregor Reid and his team are the first London, Ontario-based researchers to receive funding from the Gates Foundation.
The research project will study the impact of probiotic yogurt mixed with the nutrient rich plant called Moringa on the health outcomes of pregnant women and their children. Dr. Reid's work focuses on the benefits of bacteria in promoting nutrition and disease prevention. This study will investigate if those benefits can pass from mothers to their children. It will be based out of a newly-opened yogurt kitchen in Mwanza, Tanzania and will be part of the Western Heads East program.
"A lot of what happens later in life is impacted by the first thousand days – the nine months of pregnancy and the first two years after birth," says Dr. Reid. "Much of the work of Gates Foundation is focused on that period of life, so it was a natural fit. We're thrilled to be working with them."
Dr. Reid is Assistant Director at Lawson Health Research Institute, Director of the Canadian Research & Development Centre for Probiotics at Lawson, and a professor of Microbiology & Immunology and Surgery at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University.
Grand Challenges Explorations funds individuals worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mold in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges. Dr. Reid's project is one of over 100 Grand Challenges Explorations Round 8 grants announced by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
"Grand Challenges Explorations encourages individuals worldwide to expand the pipeline of ideas where creative, unorthodox thinking is most urgently needed," said Chris Wilson, director of Global Health Discovery and Translational Sciences at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "We're excited to provide additional funding for select grantees so that they can continue to advance their idea towards global impact."
To receive funding, Dr. Reid and other Grand Challenges Explorations Round 8 winners demonstrated in a two-page online application a bold idea in one of five critical global heath and development topic areas that included agriculture development, immunization and nutrition.
About Grand Challenges Explorations
Grand Challenges Explorations is a US$100 million initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Launched in 2008, over 600 people in 45 countries have received Grand Challenges Explorations grants. The grant program is open to anyone from any discipline and from any organization. The initiative uses an agile, accelerated grant-making process with short two-page online applications and no preliminary data required. Initial grants of US$100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of up to US$1 million. Applications for the current open round, Grand Challenges Explorations Round 9, will be accepted through May 15, 2012.
Lawson Health Research Institute. As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, London, and working in partnership with The University of Western Ontario, Lawson Health Research Institute is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care around the world. www.lawsonresearch.com
For more information, please contact:
Julia Capaldi
Communications & Public Relations
Lawson Health Research Institute
519-685-8500 ext. 75616
519-200-1115
www.lawsonresearch.com