Monitoring investments in coronavirus research and development
Authors: Rebecca J Brown, Michael G Head
Journal: The Lancet Microbe (2020)

Research and development is a crucial part of responding to and preparing for disease outbreaks.1Bedford J Enria D Giesecke J et al.COVID-19: towards controlling of a pandemic.Lancet. 2020; 395: 1015-1018Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (954) Google Scholar However, funding for research and development has historically been reactive, with little proactive investment in the periods between pandemics. Through the Research Investments in Global Health (RESIN) study, we have shown the reactive nature of funding, for example, with Ebola virus disease, Zika virus disease, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), where investment follows disease outbreaks.2Head MG Brown RJ Newell M-L Scott JAG Batchelor J Atun R The allocation of US$ 105 billion in global funding for infectious disease research between 2000 and 2017: an analysis of investments from funders in the G20 countries.SSRN. 2020; (published online April 2.) (preprint).https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3552831Crossref Google Scholar, 3Fitchett JR Lichtman A Soyode DT et al.Ebola research funding: a systematic analysis, 1997–2015.J Glob Health. 2016; 6020703Crossref PubMed Scopus (20) Google Scholar The need for a proactive approach has been acknowledged with the publication of a research and development roadmap by WHO,4WHOA coordinated global research roadmap. World Health Organization, Geneva2020https://www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/key-action/Roadmap-version-FINAL-for-WEB.pdf?ua=1Date accessed: April 27, 2020Google Scholar and with the setup of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)—a substantial infrastructure for product development research into emerging infectious diseases, including coronaviruses.5Ghebreyesus TA Swaminathan S Scientists are sprinting to outpace the novel coronavirus.Lancet. 2020; 395: 762-764Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (26) Google Scholar However, considering the COVID-19 outbreak, the world is clearly not prepared for a pandemic. The ability to track research and development has the potential to provide an evidence base to support research prioritisation and understand current research capabilities and capacity. But with data disaggregated in multiple funding bodies and organisations, a coordinated response to research and development during disease outbreaks poses a challenge. Considering this challenge, we at the RESIN study have developed a Coronavirus Research and Development Dashboard, describing historicial and current funding trends with continuous updates across the COVID-19 pandemic. This is part of a larger study describing US$105 billion of research investment for all infectious diseases.2Head MG Brown RJ Newell M-L Scott JAG Batchelor J Atun R The allocation of US$ 105 billion in global funding for infectious disease research between 2000 and 2017: an analysis of investments from funders in the G20 countries.SSRN. 2020; (published online April 2.) (preprint).https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3552831Crossref Google Scholar Between January, 2000 and December, 2019 (appendix p 1), there were 445 awards covering US$533 million of investment by public and philanthropic research and development funders. $359 million (67·4%) was related to SARS, and the year of greatest funding was 2004 ($158 million [29·6%]), immediately post-SARS. Preclinical research accounted for $509 million (95·5%). As of April 27, 2020, we have detected 221 additonal research awards funded and related to coronavirus (appendix p 1), with a sum investment of $421 million. Most of this investment was related to vaccine and product development research for COVID-19 by CEPI (estimated at $250 million). Therefore, out of a total $954 million for coronavirus research between January, 2000, and April, 2020, $414 million (43·4%) was related to COVID-19, with further rapid funding continuing to be awarded. Of the 2020 data, only $7·5 million (1·8%) of $421·3 million funding related to coronavirus was not specifically related to COVID-19. It is essential that the global health community addresses the clear gaps in knowledge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuous efforts to track research and development investments can support decision making around efficient allocation of research resources that are scarce, and can provide transparency and coordination around global efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We declare no competing interests. Download .pdf (.2 MB) Help with pdf files Supplementary appendix