Chinese scientists win Gates grants

Two Chinese scientists have received $100,000 each from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their novel ideas on fighting tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS.

The grants for Gao Qian from Fudan University and Chen Zhiwei from University of Hong Kong are among 106 offered to explore bold and largely unproven ways to improve global health, the foundation's China office said yesterday.

The grants mark the first round of funding from Grand Challenges Explorations, a five-year $100 million initiative to help lower the barriers for testing innovative ideas in global health.