Annex 3

G7 Working Group
Neglected Tropical Diseases and Poverty
Related Diseases (NTD-PRD)
Executive Summary
28th September 2017

In the follow-up of the G7 consultations in Elmau 2015 the G7 Science Ministers decided
to initiate a G7 working group on Neglected Tropical Diseases and Poverty RelatedDiseases (NTD-PRD). Concrete areas of action for the working group were agreed on at
the G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ meeting in Tsukuba from 15-17 May 2016,
where G7 Countries decided to:i.
Work on R&D mapping activities on NTDs and PRDs as a basis for facilitatingcoordination and sharing information and data;ii.
Make freely available and accessible to the public information and data on
relevant publicly funded research on NTDs and PRDs;iii.
Enhance interoperability of relevant data and information on R&D activity; andG7 SCIENCE MINISTERS MEETING | Annex to the Declaration

iv.

Maintain the group as a future Working Group to advance G7 action in thisdomain, e.g. by examining ways to support capacity building for R&D inendemic countries.

The G7 working group on NTDs and PRDs focused in particular on how to improve R&Dmapping, options for coordination of current R&D activities and on possibilities for
future joint or complementary actions.
The working group has been jointly chaired by the European Commission and theGerman Federal Ministry of Education and Research. An overview of the follow-up
activities since the G7 consultations in Elmau 2015 is given below:➢ 27-28 January 2016, Brussels: technical meeting in preparation of the Marchworkshop in Berlin➢ 23 March 2016, Berlin: workshop of the science ministers definition of tangible
and sustainable next steps to be approved by the G7 science ministers inTsukuba➢ 15-17 May 2016, Tsukuba: approval of actions related to NTDs and PRDs in theTsukuba Communiqué and Annex 1 to the Tsukuba Communiqué.
➢ 19 October 2016, Berlin: meeting of the G7 working group on NTDs and PRDs
to initiate the discussions on mapping of R&D activities among the G7 countries,coordination of activities and possible joint actions➢ 23 February 2017, VC: technical workshop on the interoperability of databases
to identify tangible next actions towards interoperability➢ 1 March 2017, Brussels: continuation of the previous discussions and thetechnical workshop on interoperability, focus on possible joint actions
The G7 working group has actively promoted the dialogue between the three databases
G-Finder, WorldReport and the WHO Global Observatory that monitor nationally funded
R&D activities on NTDs and PRDs.
Together with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Welcome Trust, the G7group proposes to evaluate the possibility of launching a pilot project on data extraction
as a next step towards the interoperability of these databases. To prepare this pilotproject, a survey will be conducted among the members of the G7 working group, theBMGF, Welcome Trust and the three databases in order to define a set of variables forthe pilot project. Then, the pilot project would provide a starting point to see how
accurate the information obtained by current data extraction protocols is and where thecurrent gaps are. The members of the working group will validate the results of the data
extraction pilot.
The G7 group suggests the set-up of an overarching, light structure in the sense of anetwork of networks. This network could, for example, be set up for specific diseases

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and promote the exchange of experiences, access to experts, and the sharing ofinformation existing and future R&D funding mechanisms among the G7 countries.
Step 1: In a first step, different, desired elements (composition and structure) of a
network of networks, including training programs will be identified. These elements
shall be checked across existing academic and government networks, to see where gaps
and needs for networking are. This preliminary work would not require funding of anyspecific element.
Step 2: Based on the elements identified from step 1, the network of networks would
be set up.
The G7 group proposes to focus on existing, multilateral funding mechanisms forpossible future joint or complementary actions. The Coalition for Operational Researchon Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) could be an interesting platform covering
operational research. The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership(EDCTP) could be considered as instrument for the joint funding of late stage expensive
clinical trials. Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) also provide a platform fordevelopment of new products for NTDs/PRDs.

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