Gates Foundation looking for the 'Next Generation' of condoms

BY Brandi Kruse  on March 20, 2013 @ 9:40 pm (Updated: 7:29 am - 3/21/13 )

The Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation needs your help to make protected sex more pleasurable.

The foundation is looking for the "Next Generation Condom," one that not only prevents unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted disease, but would encourage people to "seek out the use of condoms."

"Condom use, particularly in certain areas where HIV is most prevalent, is not very good," said Stephen Becker, deputy director of the HIV Program at the Gates Foundation. "There are desires to not use condoms despite protections that improve from their use."

While condoms have been around for hundreds of years, Becker said there continues to be a perception among men that they make sex less pleasurable.

"Is it possible to develop a product without this stigma, or better, one that is felt to enhance pleasure?" The Gates Foundation wrote in a press release. "If so, would such a product lead to substantial benefits for global health, both in terms of reducing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies and in prevention of infection with HIV or other STIs?"

Becker thinks so.

"The more appealing a condom is for a man to use, the greater likelihood of use there will be," he said. "And we're not talking about a particularly expensive technology here by any means. They are the least expensive HIV technology."

The Gates Foundation invites those who have a condom design idea to apply for a $100,000 grant online.

They ask that applications meet the following criteria:

-Application of safe new materials that may preserve or enhance sensation.

-Development and testing of new condom shapes/designs that may provide an improved user experience.

-Application of knowledge from other fields (e.g. neurobiology, vascular biology) to new strategies for improving condom desirability.

Projects that demonstrate potential could receive additional funding.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
More Local News
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (17)


  • Add A Comment

  • xplanes wrote...
    I'm so happy
    March 21, 2013 5:49 am
    this isn't another taxpayer funded study.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    So maybe now women will purchase their own birth control
    March 21, 2013 6:52 am
    Instead of the government correct?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Beaten Down Dead Horse wrote...
    Can we save everyone?
    March 21, 2013 7:42 am
    Well intentioned folks ignoring a simple fact. There IS some point at which mankind (or any species) overpopulates the earth. Maybe there's some sense trying to limit population growth with condoms while at same time saving everyone from malaria & aids.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    Too much money
    March 21, 2013 7:49 am
    too little imagination.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Is this becker kidding
    March 21, 2013 8:40 am
    or has he never had sex WITHOUT a condom? "Becker said there continues to be a perception among men that they make sex less pleasurable. " Perception? Really? Lets not forget, either, the only 100% effective way to not get STD's: Don't spread your legs girls.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • doublej wrote...
    .
    March 21, 2013 9:02 am
    It's like eating steak with a balloon on your tongue
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jcason2121 wrote...
    People, you need to listen better
    March 21, 2013 10:36 am
    My fellow listeners, having read your comments it is my personal belief that the majority of, if not all of, you need to listen more carefully to what is being said on the radio. They're not talking about controlling the population or limiting the number of births by developing this new condom. That's not what their intention is. if you listen, you'll hear them talk about HIV and the spread of HIV, and the number of people with HIV in the world. They're trying to limit the spread of STDs. As a 25-year-old divorcee I have had sex with and without condoms, and it is true that it limits the enjoyment of sex. Well it doesn't necessarily calls the reduced amount of pleasure during an orgasm it certainly detracts from the enjoyment of sex from both parties. i believe it was doublej that said it's like eating a steak with a balloon on your tongue. Seems like a good way to describe it and to be completely honest I don't think that they're going to be able to develop any type of sleeve or cover that will not limit the enjoyment of sex. There is no perception that it limits enjoy the sense that is simply a fact, But it is a necessary sacrifice if you will, to prevent the spread of STDs and prevent pregnancy
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • O-town listener wrote...
    jc - i think you need to read better..
    March 21, 2013 12:59 pm

    Your rant there had nothing to do with the comments so far posted.

    1) None of the comments claimed Bill and Melinda Gates were trying to control the population, but rather used countries that do control populations as an example of how less births can be a bad thing.

    2) The article above states specifically, " prevents unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted disease" meaning they view condoms as having 2 effects - reducing births as well as controlling STD's.

    3) It is a bad assumption to make that everyone reading and commenting here are listening to the radio at all as that is simply not the case.

    4) Any good conversation does not stick solely to the one thing being talked about (STD's) but branches out to explore other consequences of the underlying program (such as how increased condom use may reduce populations and what that might mean) so to go off on a related tangent is not a bad thing, but a pillar of a good conversation.

    So please, don't lecture folks just because they aren't sticking solely to the one point you are sticking to.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • doublej wrote...
    I understand
    March 21, 2013 2:07 pm
    that HIV prevention is the main point of the research but, lower birth rate is a side effect of condom use and one I'm looking forward to
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    I'd support research for an Obesity cure before HIV
    March 21, 2013 9:44 pm
    When humans stop using their anuses for base sexual pleasure, HIV will disappear. Until then, social Darwinism will run it's course on both the innocent and guilty no matter how great a condom is developed because it won't get used. What we need is a "male" sterility/birth control pill! In these days of paternity suits (and traps) no sexually active male wouldn't take them to "protect" themselves and their financial lives! The question is, why arent we?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • astromart wrote...
    No one is more qualified ...
    March 21, 2013 1:57 pm
    .. than Bill to make you feel better about getting screwed. He has been doing it for 20 years.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • andy123 wrote...
    Astromart...u r so right
    March 21, 2013 4:07 pm
    Other than your comment, I think Bill is getting in to the sex toy business now. And here's an idea Bill, either you or your wife can be medically altered so you won't have children. And as far as spreading an STD, they've been around longer than condoms. Are you guys sure you're faithful to each other?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John wrote...
    OK, i'll bite the bullet ---- I will be a tester...
    March 21, 2013 8:36 pm
    Lord knows, my wife has tried her best to make sex unpleasurable.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }