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UK investments in global infectious disease research 1997–2010: a case study

UK investments in global infectious disease research 1997–2010: a case study
UK investments in global infectious disease research 1997–2010: a case study
Background: Infectious diseases account for 15 million deaths per year worldwide, and disproportionately affect young people, elderly people, and the poorest sections of society. We aimed to describe the investments awarded to UK institutions for infectious disease research.

Methods: We systematically searched databases and websites for information on research studies from funding institutions and created a comprehensive database of infectious disease research projects for the period 1997–2010. We categorised studies and funding by disease, cross-cutting theme, and by a research and development value chain describing the type of science. Regression analyses were reported with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to establish the relation between research investment, mortality, and disease burden as measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

Findings: We identified 6170 funded studies, with a total research investment of UK£2·6 billion. Studies with a clear global health component represented 35·6% of all funding (£927 million). By disease, HIV received £461 million (17·7%), malaria £346 million (13·3%), tuberculosis £149 million (5·7%), influenza £80 million (3·1%), and hepatitis C £60 million (2·3%). We compared funding with disease burden (DALYs and mortality) to show low levels of investment relative to burden for gastrointestinal infections (£254 million, 9·7%), some neglected tropical diseases (£184 million, 7·1%), and antimicrobial resistance (£96 million, 3·7%). Virology was the highest funded category (£1 billion, 38·4%). Leading funding sources were the Wellcome Trust (£688 million, 26·4%) and the Medical Research Council (£673 million, 25·8%).

Interpretation: Research funding has to be aligned with prevailing and projected global infectious disease burden. Funding agencies and industry need to openly document their research investments to redress any inequities in resource allocation.
1473-3099
55-64
Head, Michael
67ce0afc-2fc3-47f4-acf2-8794d27ce69c
Fitchett, Joseph R.
1eae456d-373c-428b-a276-353f0a75822e
Cooke, Mary K.
6e457199-aad2-4b44-b8c3-f042babcbe05
Wurie, Fatima B.
96223c39-3a27-4a0f-9b4f-328ab85c98e8
Hayward, Andrew C.
443e4eeb-1e49-4489-bdd6-72bacf188a92
Atun, Rifat
20f14d3b-facf-4079-8566-eb6d13521a34
Head, Michael
67ce0afc-2fc3-47f4-acf2-8794d27ce69c
Fitchett, Joseph R.
1eae456d-373c-428b-a276-353f0a75822e
Cooke, Mary K.
6e457199-aad2-4b44-b8c3-f042babcbe05
Wurie, Fatima B.
96223c39-3a27-4a0f-9b4f-328ab85c98e8
Hayward, Andrew C.
443e4eeb-1e49-4489-bdd6-72bacf188a92
Atun, Rifat
20f14d3b-facf-4079-8566-eb6d13521a34

Head, Michael, Fitchett, Joseph R., Cooke, Mary K., Wurie, Fatima B., Hayward, Andrew C. and Atun, Rifat (2013) UK investments in global infectious disease research 1997–2010: a case study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13 (1), 55-64. (doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(12)70261-X).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: Infectious diseases account for 15 million deaths per year worldwide, and disproportionately affect young people, elderly people, and the poorest sections of society. We aimed to describe the investments awarded to UK institutions for infectious disease research.

Methods: We systematically searched databases and websites for information on research studies from funding institutions and created a comprehensive database of infectious disease research projects for the period 1997–2010. We categorised studies and funding by disease, cross-cutting theme, and by a research and development value chain describing the type of science. Regression analyses were reported with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to establish the relation between research investment, mortality, and disease burden as measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

Findings: We identified 6170 funded studies, with a total research investment of UK£2·6 billion. Studies with a clear global health component represented 35·6% of all funding (£927 million). By disease, HIV received £461 million (17·7%), malaria £346 million (13·3%), tuberculosis £149 million (5·7%), influenza £80 million (3·1%), and hepatitis C £60 million (2·3%). We compared funding with disease burden (DALYs and mortality) to show low levels of investment relative to burden for gastrointestinal infections (£254 million, 9·7%), some neglected tropical diseases (£184 million, 7·1%), and antimicrobial resistance (£96 million, 3·7%). Virology was the highest funded category (£1 billion, 38·4%). Leading funding sources were the Wellcome Trust (£688 million, 26·4%) and the Medical Research Council (£673 million, 25·8%).

Interpretation: Research funding has to be aligned with prevailing and projected global infectious disease burden. Funding agencies and industry need to openly document their research investments to redress any inequities in resource allocation.

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e-pub ahead of print date: 7 November 2012
Published date: January 2013
Organisations: Faculty of Medicine, CES General

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 386495
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/386495
ISSN: 1473-3099
PURE UUID: 490e9c52-6d2a-4b7d-a76e-5412eaacdcaa
ORCID for Michael Head: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1189-0531

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Date deposited: 01 Feb 2016 16:09
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:51

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Contributors

Author: Michael Head ORCID iD
Author: Joseph R. Fitchett
Author: Mary K. Cooke
Author: Fatima B. Wurie
Author: Andrew C. Hayward
Author: Rifat Atun

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