The initiative is modeled after the grand challenges formulated more than 100 years ago by mathematician David Hilbert. His list of important unsolved problems has encouraged innovation in mathematics research ever since. Similarly, the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative aims to engage creative minds from across scientific disciplines—including those who have not traditionally taken part in global health research—to work on 14 major challenges.

The challenges vary, but they share one essential element: Their solutions could lead to breakthrough advances in global health.

The scientific community responds enthusiastically
In the journal Science, members of the initiative's scientific board described the aim of Grand Challenges as the following:

"To direct investigators to a specific scientific or technical breakthrough that would be expected to overcome one or more bottlenecks in an imagined path towards a solution to one or preferably several significant health problems."

In 2003, the call for project ideas attracted more than 1,500 responses involving an estimated 10,000 scientists from 75 countries. In 2005, the initiative announced offers of awards for 44 projects. The selected initiatives focus on projects that will help find practical and affordable solutions to real-world problems.