Research Mapping Exercise - updated

This is a large-scale analysis of research funding related to inefctious diseases. This covers research awarded to UK institutions from 1997-2010. We chart the distribution of these monies (in terms of disease area and specialty, the funders of this research, and the region of the host institution), and provide pragmatic commentary on perceived gaps in the research portfolio and ways forward from here.

contents
Study brief and main findings Database Report and papers Graphs and figures Contact us - comments, corrections and feedback Topic-specific data Appendices - lists of funders, disease categories used, and regions
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contents

Study brief and main findings

Appendices - lists of funders, disease categories used, and regions

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study brief and main findings
The information in this box, and also from other parts of this webpage, is taken from our main paper, which has been submitted to (and is currently under review at) a peer-reviewed journal.
Global infectious disease research: the United Kingdom’s contribution from 1997 to 2010 Michael Head (a,d), Joseph Robert Fitchett (a,b), Mary Cooke (c), Fatima Wurie (d) a Infectious Disease Research Network (IDRN), Research Department of Infection and Population Health, UCL Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF b Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG c London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT d University College London, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, UCL Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF Summary Infectious diseases account for approximately 15 million deaths worldwide, disproportionately affecting the young, elderly, and poorest fractions of society. We present the first study to establish the UK contribution to global infectious disease research. Our dataset includes 6619 funded studies with a total research investment of £2.6 billion. Studies with a clear global health component represented 35.5% of all funding. Immunology (22.6%), HIV (17.8%), haematology (15.8%) and respiratory disease (15.7%) were the best-funded clinical specialties. However, we identified gross underinvestment for infectious diseases with a geriatric (0.2%), surgical (0.6%), primary care (1.2%) or fungal (2.1%) component. Considering the disease burden by DALYs and the threat to public health, infectious diarrhoea, NTDs and antimicrobial resistance were highlighted as further areas of underinvestment. Virology was the highest funded microbiological category with 43.4% of funding. By region, London attracted greatest levels of investment (43.5%). Top funders were Wellcome Trust (26.2%) and Medical Research Council (25.6%). Our findings emphasise that current research funding does not mirror disease burden, and that greater efforts are needed to couple research funding to investment need. It is crucial to have clear and accurate evidence to inform health policy and to redress unacceptable inequities in global infectious disease.
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study brief and main findings

The information in this box, and also from other parts of this webpage, is taken from our main paper, which has been submitted to (and is currently under review at) a peer-reviewed journal.

Global infectious disease research: the United Kingdom’s contribution from 1997 to 2010

Michael Head (a,d), Joseph Robert Fitchett (a,b), Mary Cooke (c), Fatima Wurie (d)

a Infectious Disease Research Network (IDRN), Research Department of Infection and Population Health, UCL Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF
b Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG
c London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT
d University College London, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, UCL Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF

Summary

Infectious diseases account for approximately 15 million deaths worldwide, disproportionately affecting the young, elderly, and poorest fractions of society. We present the first study to establish the UK contribution to global infectious disease research. Our dataset includes 6619 funded studies with a total research investment of £2.6 billion. Studies with a clear global health component represented 35.5% of all funding. Immunology (22.6%), HIV (17.8%), haematology (15.8%) and respiratory disease (15.7%) were the best-funded clinical specialties. However, we identified gross underinvestment for infectious diseases with a geriatric (0.2%), surgical (0.6%), primary care (1.2%) or fungal (2.1%) component. Considering the disease burden by DALYs and the threat to public health, infectious diarrhoea, NTDs and antimicrobial resistance were highlighted as further areas of underinvestment. Virology was the highest funded microbiological category with 43.4% of funding. By region, London attracted greatest levels of investment (43.5%). Top funders were Wellcome Trust (26.2%) and Medical Research Council (25.6%). Our findings emphasise that current research funding does not mirror disease burden, and that greater efforts are needed to couple research funding to investment need. It is crucial to have clear and accurate evidence to inform health policy and to redress unacceptable inequities in global infectious disease.

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database
We've temporarily taken down the database whilst we make some amendments to it. We are also amending the paper, although the abstract above will give an idea of the data it contains.
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report and papers
Report and summary paper to be added here in due course. We are seeking to publish one summary paper that expresses key findings from the data. We also aim to publish topic-specific papers, in collaboration with experts from that field. These papers will summarise the previous funding in that disease area, highlight gaps in the funding portfolio, and provide comentary on likely areas of high burden in the future.
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report and papers

Report and summary paper to be added here in due course.

We are seeking to publish one summary paper that expresses key findings from the data. We also aim to publish topic-specific papers, in collaboration with experts from that field. These papers will summarise the previous funding in that disease area, highlight gaps in the funding portfolio, and provide comentary on likely areas of high burden in the future.

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graphs and figures
Some graphs and figures are within the database, see above for that. Some of the disease category breakdowns are below, and will be added to in due course.
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contact us - comments, corrections and feedback
Contact lead author Mike Head, mhead@idrn.org with any comments about this work. Also, please do send us any corrections you've spotted, plus any studies that we have not included. We plan to update this work on roughly an annual basis, and any corrections or additions throughout the year will be included in the next big update. If you have some good ideas, and would like to collaborate with us to develop this work further, then also definitely please get in touch! We are very much open to suggestions here.
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Contact lead author Mike Head, mhead@idrn.org with any comments about this work.

Also, please do send us any corrections you've spotted, plus any studies that we have not included. We plan to update this work on roughly an annual basis, and any corrections or additions throughout the year will be included in the next big update.

If you have some good ideas, and would like to collaborate with us to develop this work further, then also definitely please get in touch! We are very much open to suggestions here.

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topic specific data
More disease categories to be added in due course.
Hepatology Spreadsheet - to be added Summary of key stats Funders graph UK regions Start year	Staphylococci Spreadsheet - to be added Summary of key stats Funders graph UK regions Start year



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appendices
List of funders and funding sources used, and funding categories List of disease categories used Explanation of how the regions are defined
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appendices

List of funders and funding sources used, and funding categories

List of disease categories used

Explanation of how the regions are defined

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Research Mapping Exercise - updated

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