Rice bran, a byproduct of rice refining that is often discarded or fed to livestock, can be used to fortify children’s snacks with iron and vitamins. (Photo credit: Grand Challenges Canada)
Federally-funded Grand Challenges Canada announced seed funding Sept. 22 for 22 projects submitted by innovators worldwide and designed to improve child and maternal health in the developing world. Examples include:
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A snack produced from rice bran waste in the Philippines to combat child iron deficiency;
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A technique for safely storing vaccines at room temperature by applying a novel polymer coating;
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A quick water test to help conquer deadly diseases;
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A portable ultrasound imaging device to help medical professionals oversee childbirths in remote areas via cellular telecommunications.
The full news release is available here, and a complete list of projects along with links to photos, video and principal researcher contact details is available here.
