The Global Alliance for Rapid Diagnostics (GARD) is a multidisciplinary peer-to-peer global network committed to improving health worldwide, founded by Dr. Evangelyn Alocilja, MSU Professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
Since 2021, the virtual GARD Forum has been taking place in a highly collaborative format, allowing experts and academics from different regions worldwide to hold technical sessions, short courses, mock simulations, and cross-continent discussions about the use of innovative technologies to sustain all aspects of health. One part of the GARD Forum is the Innovation Challenge, a competition open to professionals and students (undergraduate and graduate) interested in taking action towards solving relevant global problems.
“Solutions to global problems require global, local, and multidisciplinary partnership. The GARD Innovation Challenge is designed to foster creativity, establish a global community of innovators, and build an innovation ecosystem where solutions are relevant, accessible, affordable, appropriate, impactful, and valuable to those in need.” —Dr. Alocilja