Reviewers will be encouraged to champion proposals according to the following criteria:
• Topic Responsiveness – Does the proposal address the problems described in the topic? (Please note the types of research that will not be funded are listed in each topic description.)
• Innovative Approach – Does the idea offer an unconventional or creative approach to the problem outlined in the topic? Does it demonstrate application of a new or pioneering approach? Does the proposal describe how the project varies from current approaches, offers new premises or hypotheses to test, and does it provide a rational basis for expecting success?

The foundation has put in place policies and procedures to restrict public dissemination of grant application materials including, when possible, having external reviewers sign confidentiality agreements and requiring that reviewers  destroy or return to the foundation all copies of information acquired or created during the course of performing a review.  In some instances, we are unable to put in place confidentiality agreements or to police the use of grant application materials. An example of this would be in providing materials to others who may wish to fund future grants related to the GCE initiative.

The full terms and conditions of the grant award are detailed in the Rules & Guidelines.  However, some key elements of the award are:
1. No grantee will be permitted to make subgrants, but all grantees will be permitted to contract out for services, up to a maximum of one-third (1/3) of the grant funds ($33,000 USD). Phase II grants will not have this limitation.
2. All grantees will be entitled to purchase equipment, provided that each item must be less than $5,000 USD and the aggregate purchases do not exceed 1/4 of the grant funds ($25,000 USD). Phase II grants will not have this limitation.
3.  The funds may be used to cover direct costs of the project, but no grantee will be entitled to use grant funds to cover indirect costs. Please see the Appendix in the Rules & Guidelines for the definition of indirect costs. Phase II grants will follow the foundations normal guidelines for indirect costs.
4. Non-US grantees will not be allowed to use grant funds for US expenditures. Note that items such as equipment, reagents or other consumable purchased from US-based distributors are not subject to this restriction. However, using grant funds to travel to or from the United States is subject to this restriction. Phase II grants will not have this limitation.
5. Grant funds may be used for human subject research (including, but not limited to, the use of any human tissue samples or the conduct of human clinical trials), but you must have all appropriate approvals, assurances and certifications (including, but not limited to, IRB approvals) on the date the Grant Agreement is fully executed. You do not need to have all required approvals in place at the time of application, but you must receive them as of the date the Grant Agreement is fully executed.

Given the size and nature of the program, we are not able to provide individualized feedback to each applicant. Generally, applications are not funded due to one of the following reasons:

1. It presents an idea that is explicitly excluded from consideration for funding. For more information, please see the topic descriptions.
2. It does not directly address the topics for that round.
3. It is not complete. Applications that do not contain a coherent idea, design or description of the work to be performed are not considered for funding.
4. It does not describe how the idea offers a creative approach to the problem and how it varies from current or conventional approaches.
5. It does not clearly outline or describe the specific objective(s) to be accomplished within the time period of the initial award.