The Grand Challenges (GC) Network has announced the awarding of grants to over fifty researchers and innovators dedicated to harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to address some of the world's most critical health challenges. This initiative, titled "Catalyzing Equitable AI Use for Improved Global Health," seeks to leverage emerging technologies to develop solutions for issues such as infectious diseases, climate change, poverty, and inequality, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The GC Network, a coalition of global partners focused on fostering innovation to address key health and development problems, had launched an AI funding call with a commitment of more than $5 million. Over the next 12 months, the funded researchers and innovators will develop AI-led innovations aimed at positively transforming healthcare delivery and improving the lives of millions worldwide. This effort represents the first of many AI-focused funding calls by the GC Network of partners, aiming to nurture and champion the world’s most creative minds, regardless of their geographic location.
Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, President & CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, emphasised the importance of local innovators in realizing AI's potential to improve global health. “To realise the potential of AI to improve health and well-being worldwide, we need to equip and support local innovators who understand how best to transform and uplift their communities,” he said.
The GC Network partners include Grand Challenges Africa (Science for Africa Foundation), Grand Challenges Brazil (Brazil’s Ministry of Health), Grand Challenges Canada (Government of Canada), Grand Challenges (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Grand Challenges Ethiopia (Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and hosted at Armauer Hansen Research Institute), Grand Challenges India (Government of India, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council), Grand Challenges Senegal (Institut Pasteur de Dakar), Grand Challenges South Africa (South African Medical Research Council and Department of Science and Innovation), along with global funding partners including the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and the Pasteur Network.
The initiative builds on the work of an initial global cohort of 50 AI innovators in global health and development supported by the Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges program. The current funding call was informed by joint partner discussions on the need for an equitable and responsible approach to AI use, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), in LMICs.
More information on the selected innovators and their projects, here
Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku
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