Redefining Women’s Health: Funding Opportunity for Smart Vaginal Formulations

Grand Challenges India: Funding Opportunity on Accelerating Innovation in Vaginal Formulations for Women’s Health

Last date to apply: December 16, 2025
🔗 View official call on BIRAC website

🌸 Overview

Grand Challenges India (GCI), in partnership with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), has announced a new funding opportunity aimed at advancing innovative vaginal formulations to support women’s health.

This call seeks India-led proposals that combine science, technology, and user-centered design to address the unmet needs in vaginal delivery systems — emphasizing safety, scalability, and accessibility in low- and middle-income settings.

The initiative supports novel, affordable, and culturally appropriate formulations that improve women’s reproductive and general health outcomes.

🎯 Focus Areas

Objective 1: Novel Formulations or Components
Projects should demonstrate:

• Proof-of-concept adaptable to Indian environmental and storage conditions
• Low-cost, locally sourced components
• Potential for extended or on-demand delivery
• Biological evaluation including effects on vaginal microbiome, epithelial health, mucosal immunity, and pH balance

Objective 2: User-Centered Design Research
Research should define what makes an ideal vaginal product by exploring:

• User preferences, barriers, and benefits (odor control, sexual wellness, menstrual comfort) across ≥3 demographics
• Design principles reflecting regional, cultural, and behavioral contexts
• Implementation framework — messaging, pricing, community engagement, and distribution channels

🚫 What Will Not Be Funded

• Studies on existing commercial vaginal products (e.g., menstrual cups, OTC probiotics)
• Personalized or unaffordable approaches without scalable plans
• Projects focused solely on treatment of STIs or contraception
• Purely exploratory research without translational potential
• Projects lacking end-user insight or relying only on focus groups/surveys

💰 Funding Details

• Maximum Grant: ₹2.2 crore (≈USD 250,000)
• Project Duration: Up to 24 months
• Exploratory high-risk projects with smaller budgets are encouraged
• Covers R&D, prototyping, pilot testing, and commercialization support
• Indirect Costs: Up to 10–15% of total budget
• Non-Permissible Costs: Building construction, PI salaries for permanent staff, HRA/PF, etc.

🧩 Who Can Apply

This call is open to Indian entities and institutions, including:

• Companies (≥51% Indian shareholding)
• LLPs, Trusts, Societies, Foundations, NGOs
• Academic institutions, universities, and public research organizations (UGC/AICTE recognized)
• Start-ups and incubated innovators through recognized entities

Note:

• At least one Principal Investigator must be an Indian national.
• Women-led projects and collaborations with LMIC partners are encouraged.
• 100% of funding must go to Indian organizations even if international partners are involved.

📅 Timeline

⚙️ Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on:

• Scientific excellence and innovation (40%) – novelty, rigor, feasibility
• Impact potential (30%) – women’s health relevance, scalability, global access
• Execution capacity (20%) – expertise, partnerships, milestones
• Budget and ethics (10%) – cost justification and responsible conduct

Projects demonstrating cross-disciplinary collaboration, women-led leadership, and LMIC relevance will receive additional weightage.

🧭 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply?
Indian academic institutions, public/private research bodies, not-for-profit foundations, start-ups, and companies. At least one PI must be an Indian national with a valid Indian passport.

2. Can individuals apply directly?
No. Applications must be submitted through a registered Indian organization authorized to receive and manage grant funds.

3. Are women-led or LMIC-linked teams preferred?
Yes, proposals led by women scientists or with LMIC partnerships will be prioritized.

4. What documents are required at submission?

• Institutional endorsement/NOC
• Collaboration certificates (if any)
• Ethical/regulatory approval status
• Incubation certificate (for independent innovators)

5. Do I need ethics approvals before submission?
Not mandatory, but applicants must indicate the approval status and obtain necessary clearances (IEC, ICMR, CDSCO) during project initiation.

6. What is the funding limit and duration?
Up to INR 2.2 crore (~USD 250,000) for a maximum duration of 24 months.

7. Can foreign travel or equipment purchase be included?
Yes, if essential and justified in the proposal.

8. How are funds disbursed?
Funding is milestone-based, released upon satisfactory completion of defined project stages.

9. Will feedback be provided to unsuccessful applicants?
Only a decision notification will be sent; detailed feedback will not be shared.

10. Who to contact for queries?
📧 Dr. Arshi Mehboob – pmubmgf1.birac@nic.in
📧 Dr. Chandra Madhavi – pmubmgf5.birac@nic.in
Subject line: GCI-VF Call

🔍 Learn More

Visit the official BIRAC page for application details and forms:
👉 https://birac.nic.in/desc_new.php?id=1280

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