The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has launched a $100 million fund to foster unconventional approaches to global health, inviting scientists to bid for small, quickly awarded grants. The Grand Challenges Explorations program will engage scientists in Africa and Asia, where disease is widespread and money is scarce. Typical Gates Foundation grants require lengthy applications supported by data and financial oversight often taking up to a year or more, which can overwhelm scientists in underdeveloped countries. The new streamlined program will utilize a shorter application form and the review will take a few months.