Portraits of Potential

The Ghanaian researcher who came home

When Yaw Bediako saw scientists and researchers departing Ghana, he made a life-changing pivot to keep brilliant minds in his country.
Dr. Yaw Bediako, co-founder and CEO of Yemaachi Biotech, poses for a photo at the Yemaachi Biotech lab in Accra, Ghana, on May 7, 2024.
Yaw Bediako, co-founder and CEO of Yemaachi Biotech, poses for a photo at the Yemaachi Biotech lab in Accra, Ghana. ©Gates Archive/Nana Kofi Acquah

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Who loses when scientific research is locked behind paywalls?

Announcing our expanded policy for open access to scientific research, after a decade of experiences and learnings.
By Estee Torok Senior Program Officer, Malaria, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Portrait of Nneka Mobisson, Co-Founder and CEO of mDoc, during an outreach program at the Balogun Market in Lagos, Nigeria, on September 14, 2023. mDoc is a social enterprise that integrates proven methodologies in quality improvement and behavioral science with web and mobile-based technology to optimize the end to end care experience for people living with chronic health needs such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

Out of grief, a daughter’s mission to transform healthcare

Nneka Mobisson’s father believed in the power of technology to save lives. She’s honoring his memory by using AI to address inequalities in healthcare, in Nigeria and across Africa.
Kedest Tesfagiorgis Deputy Director, Global Partnerships & Grand Challenges, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation delivers opening remarks at Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2019 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on October 28, 2019.

How to solve tough global health problems? Build community.

The leader of Grand Challenges shares how the initiative funds 4,000 research teams to advance some of the coolest science happening today.
By Kedest Tesfagiorgis Deputy Director, Global Partnerships and Grand Challenges, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation