Gates backs 78 new projects for health innovation

London, 11 May-(ANA)-Efforts to develop a vaccine to control mosquitoes using carnivorous plants have received the backing of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The project is among 78 others which would each receive a $100,000 grant from the $34bn Foundation run by the multi-billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates.
Other winning projects include developing a low-cost cell phone microscope to diagnose malaria, using ultrasound as a reversible male contraceptive, insecticide-treated scarves and using imaging systems to seek and destroy parasites with a targeted laser vaccine.

"We are convinced that some of these ideas will lead to innovations and eventually solutions that will save lives," Tachi Yamada, of the Gates Foundation's global health programme, said in a statement.

 The foundation said winners were from universities, research institutes and non-profit organisations in 18 countries around the world. (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 May 2010----