The Innovations in Decentralized Pan-Orthoebolavirus Diagnostics Grand Challenge seeks field-ready innovations in diagnostic solutions that address gaps exposed by the 2026 Ebola outbreak and prepare for future outbreaks. This request for proposals (RFP) invites applications for specific, well-defined solutions from teams with the expertise, access, and partnerships to deliver them in deployment settings such as the Ebola hotspot region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other countries in the region.

Overview

On May 15, 2026, the DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak, caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), for which no licensed vaccine or approved therapeutic currently exists. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and has become the fastest-spreading and third-largest recorded Ebola outbreak. The diagnostic toolbox for BDBV is insufficient, with no available antigen rapid diagnostic test (RDT) meeting WHO specifications. This Challenge aims to accelerate the development of decentralized, field-deployable diagnostics that eliminate the need for complex laboratory infrastructure, cold chain, and reliable electricity, and are suitable for areas with logistical disruption and healthcare workers with limited formal diagnostic training.

Research Areas and Activities

This RFP spans five opportunity areas, each with specific use cases, budget ranges, and durations.

Opportunity 1: Biomarkers (Budget: US $350,000–$750,000; Duration: 18–24 months)

• Novel antigen targets and binder discovery for RDT development, including identification of BDBV-specific and pan-Orthoebolavirus antigen targets with matched recognition elements suitable for RDT-compatible formats.
• Host response or other biomarkers for early-illness triage that distinguish Ebola virus disease from other febrile illnesses at or before the point of antigen detectability.
• Applicants must have access to BSL-4 containment and outbreak patient specimens.

Opportunity 2: Specimen Innovations (Budget: US $300,000–$600,000; Duration: 18–24 months)

• Venipuncture-free specimen type validation, including capillary blood, gingival-margin swabs, oral mucosal transudate, tongue dorsum swabs, and urine.
• Inactivation workflow validation for chemical or physical inactivation chemistries that render BDBV, EBOV, and SUDV specimens biosafe.
• Viral inactivation confirmation indicators and fully enclosed collection-inactivation devices operable by community health workers.
• Applicant requirements include prospective access to Ebola virus disease patients and BSL-4 access for live-virus work.

Opportunity 3: Diagnostic Products (Budget: US $300,000–$800,000; Duration: 24–36 months)

• Next-generation antigen RDTs with sensitivity improvements achieving analytic sensitivity equivalent to or better than RT-PCR for Ct ≤30 for at least one Orthoebolavirus species, with priority for BDBV.
• True point-of-care molecular tests that are fully self-contained, disposable, require no laboratory infrastructure, and deliver results in 45 minutes or less.

Opportunity 4: Surveillance and Early Warning (Budget: US $300,000–$600,000; Duration: 24–36 months)

• Sentinel surveillance tools for high-risk sites such as health facilities, mining sites, and border crossings.
• Environmental and wastewater surveillance for Orthoebolavirus nucleic acid or other markers.
• AI-driven early-warning systems integrating routine health system signals for outbreak detection before laboratory confirmation.

Opportunity 5: Quality and Implementation (Budget: US $150,000–$400,000; Duration: 18–24 months)

• Reference panels and external quality assessment materials spanning Orthoebolavirus species across clinically relevant viral load ranges.
• Field competency and efficiency tools for healthcare workers, including AI-powered simulation, job-aid applications, and competency assessment tools designed for low-literacy and low-connectivity contexts.

Eligibility

This initiative is open to research institutes, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions. The Foundation strongly encourages applications from institutions based in or partnering with organizations in DRC, Uganda, or other Ebola virus disease-endemic countries. Applications from investigators with prior experience in high-consequence pathogen diagnostics, specifically Orthoebolavirus or other BSL-4-classified pathogens, are strongly encouraged. Multi-institutional collaborations pairing technology developers with accredited high-containment facilities, national reference laboratories, and clinical partners in endemic countries are also encouraged. All applicants must comply with the Gates Foundation global access requirements. Individuals and organizations classified as individuals for U.S. tax purposes are not eligible. Applications must be submitted in English.

Application Process

Applicants should review the Rules and Guidelines, Application Instructions, Gates Foundation Terms and Conditions, and Frequently Asked Questions before applying. Proposals must address a specific, named use case with a technically credible workplan, defined milestones, and go/no-go criteria. Applications must be grounded in the deployment context of affected and high-risk countries and demonstrate the partnerships required to execute the work. Available supporting data and clear descriptions or renderings of proposed solutions should be included. Applicants must commit to global access requirements and open-access publication of all results. The Foundation anticipates funding a portfolio of up to 12 awards, with funding amounts aligned with the scope of work for each use case. The Foundation reserves the right to offer partial awards or negotiate scope adjustments prior to finalizing an award. Indirect costs will be considered subject to the Gates Foundation indirect cost policy. Other funders have expressed interest in potentially funding projects submitted through this RFP, and representatives from these funders may participate in the review process.

Deadline and Timeline

Date Open: July 6, 2026, 4:00 am PDT

Deadline: July 31, 2026, 11:30 am PDT

To accelerate the identification and deployment of solutions with the potential to impact the current Ebola outbreak, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and may be selected to move forward to the grantmaking process prior to the submission deadline. Award durations range from 18 to 36 months depending on the opportunity area.