Grand Challenges South Africa – Request for Proposals: Innovations in Cost-Disruptive Tools for Diagnosis and Screening

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), through its Grand Challenges South Africa programme and in partnership with the Gates Foundation, invites proposals for innovative, cost-disruptive diagnostic and screening solutions targeting high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income settings.

This initiative forms part of the global Grand Challenges Network effort titled: “Grand Challenges for Cost-Disruptive Novel Diagnostics and Screening Tools”

SAMRC’s participation in this initiative is supported through co-funding from the National Department of Health (NDoH), the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), and the Gates Foundation, enabling expanded investment into South African-led innovation.

Objectives of the Challenge:

Priority Areas

Applications are invited for transformative innovations addressing:

1. Tuberculosis (TB)
   Development of scalable, low-cost community and near-patient diagnostic and screening tools, particularly non-sputum-based and symptom-agnostic approaches aligned with WHO Target Product Profiles.
2. HIV and Related Diagnostics
   Innovations supporting:
   • Decentralized viral load testing
   • Early infant diagnosis (EID)
   • Advanced HIV disease (AHD) screening
   • Near point-of-care CD4 and triage solutions
3. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Women’s Health
   Affordable, scalable tools for:
   • Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Trichomonas diagnostics
   • Syphilis diagnostics
   • HPV screening and cervical cancer prevention
   • Modular STI diagnostic platforms
4. Maternal and Newborn Health
   Innovations supporting:
   • Preeclampsia screening and diagnosis
   • Gestational diabetes monitoring
   • Neonatal sepsis triage
   • NICU outbreak detection
   • Low-burden maternal monitoring technologies

Across all focus areas, solutions should demonstrate:

• Operational feasibility in LMIC settings
• High-throughput potential
• Affordability and scalability
• A credible pathway toward approximately US$1-class diagnostics or near-zero incremental screening cost
• Potential for local manufacturing and deployment

Funding Level:

Option A – Early Feasibility & Proof-of-Concept

• Up to R5 million
• Up to 24 months

Option B – Product Refinement & Early Validation

• Up to R8 million
• Up to 24 months

Option C – Advanced Validation & Field Readiness

• One award of up to R16.5 million
• Up to 36 months

Applicants should request funding aligned with the maturity and scope of the proposed work.

Geography and Eligibility:

Applications are open to:

• South African universities
• Public research institutions
• Non-profit organizations
• For-profit companies registered in South Africa

Additional eligibility requirements:

• Projects must be based in South Africa
• Principal Investigators must be South African citizens or permanent residents
• International collaborators are permitted
• Women-led teams, participation by historically black universities, and academic-private sector collaborations are strongly encouraged

Access to Full RFP Document

The complete Request for Proposals (RFP) document, including detailed eligibility criteria, submission templates, and evaluation guidelines, is available online.

Application Submission

All applications must be submitted through the Grand Challenges South Africa online portal (RedCap).

Applications submitted via email or other methods will not be accepted.

Applicants are required to complete:

1. Applicant Profile
2. Project Proposal _Proposal Template (Signed by the institution)
3. Budget – Upload as a Microsoft Excel or PDF file using the official budget template provided in the RFP
4. Curriculum Vitae (CVs) – Upload CVs for the Principal Investigator and all Co-investigators

Important Dates:

Additional Information:

• Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
• SAMRC will monitor eligibility and provide guidance, but all proposals must be submitted via the portal.
• Applicants should reference the RFP overview, rules and guidelines, and application instructions when preparing submissions.

Contact for Queries: GIPD RFA GIPD.RFA@mrc.ac.za