The Grand Challenges for Global Health meeting spent little time celebrating global successes in maternal and child health. Instead, speakers and participants focused on the millions of lives that still need saving. Innovative technologies and approaches can accelerate substantial and sustainable progress in these areas, especially if innovators consider three key concepts. These three concepts, which I explain below, emerged as overarching themes at the Grand Challenges for Global Health meeting in Delhi.
Day Three of the Grand Challenges in Global Health meeting might have been the best day yet. We heard from several Gates and Saving Lives at Birth innovators as they “fast pitched” their novel ideas, including two Saving Lives seed grantees – Michelle McIntosh from Monash University and Mario Merialdi from WHO. Dr.
Day Two of the Grand Challenges in Global Health meeting opened with a session entitled “Celebrating Innovation and Partnership.” The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes introduced the session, underscoring the role of innovation within the Foundation. “Innovation is in Gates’ DNA,” he emphasized, and “is at the core of what will reshape the world.” Raikes then drew an insightful analogy, which was repeated in various forms throughout the conference. He compared a bird in flight to the development of innovation - much like a bird needs both its
Since 2005, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has held annual meetings surrounding their Grand Challenge initiative. The meetings predominately focus on scientific dialogue and shared problem solving with regard to accelerating scientific advances along the path to health impact. The meetings also celebrate global health leadership. The following blog posts will provide daily summaries of the 2011 meeting in Delhi, India with a specific focus on family health.
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